Adequacy of the midwifery curriculum in achieving educational objectives from the perspective of midwifery graduates in 2017

A curriculum is a set of teaching and learning activities, and updating it in accordance with the diverse and evolving needs of learners in various dimensions is essential. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the adequacy of the midwifery curriculum in achieving educational goals from the perspective of graduates of this major. The present study was a descriptive-analytical research in which 180 graduates were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-16. According to the results, as far as theoretical, practical, and internship courses were concerned, the number of credits allocated to some major courses in midwifery was inadequate. These courses included Obstetrics 1 and Obstetrics 2 with an average score of 1.5, Principles and Techniques of Nursing with an average score of 1.6, Obstetrics and Non-Normal Delivery (Obstetrics 3) with an average score of 1.7, Nutrition Principles of the Mother and Baby with an average score of 1.7, Women Diseases and Infertility with a mean score of 1.7, and Health 4 with a mean score of 1.7. The inadequacy in the number of credits allocated to some of the courses such as Obstetrics and Delivery which is among the main courses of this major shows the dire need for fundamental changes in this curriculum. Therefore, it seems that achieving educational goals requires some changes in the number of courses, by removing old units and adding new ones.