Closing the Gap Between Theory and Practice: A Collaborative Education and Research Partnership Between Dalarna University and Midwifery Institutions in The Gambia

Since 2020, the subject of Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health at Dalarna University has maintained a close collaboration with midwifery institutions in The Gambia. The collaboration was initiated by The Gambia’s Ministry of Health and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Its overall aim is to strengthen midwifery education and maternal and neonatal care in the country, while also contributing to internationalisation for students and faculty in both Sweden and The Gambia.

The Gambia has an established midwifery and nursing profession with four governmental education institutions. Maternal and neonatal mortality remain high, although a downward trend has been observed. Maternal mortality is estimated at 289 per 100,000 live births, and neonatal mortality at approximately 29 per 1,000. A key challenge, shared with many countries, is the gap between theoretical education and clinical practice. Bridging this gap has been the central guiding principle of the collaboration since its inception.

Components of the project

The collaboration has evolved through several interconnected components.

• With support from the Linnaeus–Palme programme, student and faculty exchanges have been conducted in both directions, both virtually and through on-site visits in Sweden and The Gambia. Joint interdisciplinary courses, as well as workshops in clinical skills, pedagogy, and research methodology, have been central elements. Several Gambian midwifery educators have also pursued further education through Dalarna University’s Master’s programme in Global SRHR.

• In parallel, a research network has been established with funding from Formas and the Swedish Research Council. Efforts to strengthen the link between theory and practice have been further developed with support from the Laerdal Foundation. In collaboration with Midwize, a capacity-building leadership programme, an innovative model was developed that combines simulation-based training in life-saving interventions with support for physiological childbirth.

• The current research and educational initiative builds on this work with funding from the Anders Hultman Foundation and employs a sequential quasi-experimental design. Educators from all four governmental midwifery training institutions in the country, as well as clinical midwives at the associated clinical sites, participate in a capacity-strengthening programme delivered through a blended on-site and online format including mentorship. The programme is evaluated qualitatively through focus group discussions and quantitatively using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

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