THE EFFECTIVENESS OF E-LEARNING IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MIDWIVES IN GHANA HEALTH SERVICE, ASHANTI REGION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how e-learning in training and development of midwives in Ghana Health Service in Ashanti Region could be enhanced. The aim of the literature review was to review existing literature on the effectiveness of e-leaning in training and development of workers in various organisations. The study adopted the mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Quantitative research design used in this study was the survey and the qualitative research design used was the case study. The sampling techniques used included purposive sampling of fifty (50) midwives in the quantitative approach and in the case of the qualitative approach, purposive sampling technique was also used to select five (5) e-learning facilitators within the Health Service of Ashanti Region. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the fifty (50) midwives who participated in the study. Face-to-face in-depth individual interview was also used to gather in-depth information from the five (5) e-learning facilitators. The SPSS, version 20.0 was used to analyze the data collected from the midwives. The collected data from the interview was thematically analysed through the use of the manual method. Some of the findings are: e-learning educate midwives who are not able to attend a college or university due to geographical or time constraints, e-learning has a significant influence on the professional development of workers at the Health Service, e-learning has improved the attitude, skills and knowledge of the Health Service staff and has also helped to reduce the gap of knowledge or know-how between the midwifery and nursing. These are some of the recommendations: It was recommended that the Ghana Health Service in Ashanti Region should make all e-learning platforms accessible to vital information. The Ghana Health Service, managers and service providers should organise awareness programmes where health workers are made to have positive attitudes towards e-learning and to receive all benefits offered by e-learning as a tool for learning.