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Summary

Course details

Course type:

Professional Diploma

Director of studies:

Mselenge Mdegela

Mode of study:

Duration:

13 Weeks

Home fee:

£3,700

Overseas fee:

£3,700

Attachments

DSRH Student Handbook 2019.pdf

LSTM Professional Diploma and Certificate Student Handbook 201920.pdf

A Student Guide to LSTM 2019.pdf

3 good reasons to study

This course is accredited by the Royal College of Midwives.

It is run in Partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

It provides scholarship opportunities for students from LMICs (Low and middle income countries) and provides a unique opportunity to learn from a multi-national, multi-disciplinary peer group

Programme Outline

In developing countries, pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death among women in their reproductive years. Experts estimate that access to family planning alone would save the lives of 114,000 women. At least 250,000 maternal deaths and as many as 1.7 million newborn deaths would be averted if the need for both family planning and maternal and newborn health services were met.

The DSRH course is designed for both EU students and students from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). It embeds the importance of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) within sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and focuses on reducing reproductive mortality and morbidity through a multi-dimensional team approach.

This Diploma is unique in that doctors, midwives, clinical officers and other healthcare professionals from all corners of the world have an opportunity to work together to learn about the development and evaluation of practical, realistic, evidence-based interventions to improve care for women, babies and children in LMIC in line with global strategies.

You will gain an understanding of basic epidemiology, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and apply your knowledge to the critical analysis of research papers and reports. Throughout the programme, the aim is for you to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding, and sufficient confidence in new skills and ideas, to apply them in your working environment in a developing country situation.

The course is run with an emphasis on group discussion and a rather participatory approach, with less emphasis on didactic lecturing. Active involvement is therefore important for participants to benefit fully from the course.

Entrance Requirements

Academic requirements:

Qualified health care providers, such as nurses, midwives, clinical officers, doctors, obstetricians, who are working in low and middle income countries or who are planning to do so. Applications from staff in Ministries of Health, freelance consultants and health advisers working in the field of SRH are also invited.

English language requirements:

The programme is taught in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must normally provide evidence of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all learning components, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 88 for the Internet-based Test (iBT), with minimum scores of 21 for Listening and Writing, 22 for Reading and 23 for Speaking. Tests should be within their validity period of 2 years. Other English Language Tests and country specific English Language qualifications are also accepted – a full list with details of levels required can be found on the LSTM website (http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements). Applicants who have recently completed a degree level qualification taught in a majority English speaking country (as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)) may also be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Studies.

Other requirements:

None.

Aims

This course aims to:

Review a range of possible strategies that can be used to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health/ Maternal & Neonatal Health in resource poor countries.

Develop an awareness of the need to reduce reproductive mortality and morbidity through a multi-dimensional and team approach.

Understand and explain basic epidemiology, quantitative and qualitative research methods and apply the knowledge to critically analyse research papers and reports.

Increase their capabilities to plan, implement and evaluate relevant programmes and interventions in reproductive health.

Careers

The 13-week course is full time at LSTM and delivered through lectures, group work, presentations, discussions, study tours and self-study. Students undertake a project about a health problem of relevance to them and research and identify evidence that can be used to advocate for change. The project requires them to learn how to conduct a literature search and express their knowledge and opinions using scientific writing skills.

The course is taught by multi-disciplinary, multi-national lecturers, many of whom are clinicians. As part of the DSRH you will undertake the Emergency Obstetric Care course which will enable you to develop practical skills to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity in a clinical setting.

Testimonials

Midwife, DSRH student, 2016, Kenya
"The experience we got from LSTM was tremendous! I have just initiated and implemented the first-ever maternal death review at a healthcare facility we are supporting in South Somalia, bordering Kenya. It was a successful audit. We have managed to audit two deaths so far and it was a great lesson for all of us. Hopefully, we will continue to make more progress in improving maternal and newborn health regardless of the constraints we face. I believe we will be better than what we were before."

Midwifery Tutor, DSRH student, 2017, Ghana
“The knowledge and skills I have received will help in strengthening midwifery practice in Ghana. I will use the research skills acquired to expand midwives’ involvement in the various research programmes in the country through the midwifery association.”

Clinical Officer, DSRH student, 2017, Malawi
“The course was very exciting for me as it covered the exact issues that I encounter in my daily work. I would greatly recommend it for colleagues working in RMNCH especially in low income settings. I think it's a service improvement in itself. I will not take guidelines for granted. Even guidelines produced by International organisations like WHO, I would want to critically examine the evidence behind the recommendations in the guideline before adopting it for use in my setting.”

Dr Amber Wilson who did the DSRH in 2016 and is now a Obstetric and Gynaecologist trainee in Liverpool Women’s hospital has also provided a quote: ‘I enjoyed every moment of the DSRH. Having the opportunity to work with clinicians from LMICs gave me a unique insight into challenges and inequalities that affect maternal health globally. The course also linked theory with practice by making the emergency obstetric course a component of the teaching. As a clinician who had been focussed mainly on the delivery of maternal health services I now have a developed an understanding of how important advocacy and influencing policy is in maternal health. I have been involved in ensuring better management of health services, research and training since I have undertaken the DSRH both in the UK and in LMIC.’

“My experience on the course will help in strengthening midwifery practice in Ghana. I will use my new skills to expand midwives’ involvement in the various programmes in the country through the midwifery association.” Manuella Gondaa, 2017 Midwifery Tutor – Ghana. Manuella has returned to Ghana to work as a health tutor within the Ghana Health Service training college for nursing and midwifery

After I finished by programme of Reproductive Health, I went back to my country and I am really proud of LSTM because now I have started to benefit from the knowledge & skills which I acquired. I am now conducting different part-time jobs (consultancy) in maternal death audits; HPV vaccination and Family Planning. (Yves Lucien Hakorimana, 2015)

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Apply

Start date	End date	Home fee	Overseas fee
6 January 2020	3 April 2020	£3,700	£3,700	Apply

Start date:
6 January 2020

End date:
3 April 2020

Home fee:
£3,700

Overseas fee:
£3,700

Apply

Diploma in Sexual & Reproductive Health in Low Resource Areas