Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Educational challenges as experienced by pregnant student nurses at a college in Mpumalang
Submitted: 07 November 2017 | Published: 06 June 2019
About the author(s)
Khothasane B. Nkosi, Mpumalanga Department of Health, Mpumalanga College of Nursing, Nelspruit, South AfricaAgnes Makhene, Department of Nursing Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sidwell Matlala, Department of Nursing Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Student nurses at a college in Mpumalanga fall pregnant before they complete their training, and some commence training while pregnant and face educational challenges in both theoretical and clinical learning areas. It becomes impossible for them to complete their training on time.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore and describe educational challenges as experienced by pregnant student nurses at a college in Mpumalanga and to formulate recommendations that can be used by the college and pregnant student nurses to address their educational challenges.
Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Ten student nurses were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected by means of in-depth unstructured individual phenomenological interviews between September and November 2016. Data were analysed using Giorgi’s qualitative thematic analysis method.
Results: The central theme that emerged from this study confirmed that pregnant student nurses experienced educational challenges negatively. Four main themes that emerged were academic challenges, failure to write examinations, support system and maternity leave. These findings had a negative impact on their education.
Conclusion: There is a need for the college to minimise the identified educational challenges to promote completion of training on time.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 4566Total article views: 9479
Crossref Citations
1. Stress and coping among unmarried pregnant university students in South Africa
Thandiwe Msipu Phiri, Patrick Nyamaruze, Olagoke Akintola
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth vol: 21 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04288-1
2. Pre-service midwifery education in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Nicole Warren, Ashley Gresh, Nkosazana Ruth Mkhonta, Abigail Kazembe, Susheela Engelbrecht, Jenna Feraud, Kalin Patel, Heloise Adandogou-d'Almeida, Phelelo Marole, Nancy Reynolds, Peter Johnson
Nurse Education in Practice vol: 71 first page: 103678 year: 2023
doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103678
3. Lower academic performance and dropout rates among University students with children: a prospective cohort study of nursing students in Bogotá, Colombia
Fabián Cortés-Muñoz, Jenny Paola Garzón Ruiz, Mónica Alexandra Ferrer Buenaño, Laura Daniela Fonseca Granados, Luis Fernando Agudelo Cruz, John Jalber Lombana Cortés, Jennifer Tatiana Ruiz Barrera, Angie Paola Parada Fresneda, José Luis Quimbay Mondragón, Johan Stiven Buitrago Arcila, Mateo Alejandro Gil Cabezas
International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship vol: 19 issue: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1515/ijnes-2021-0073
4. Supporting pregnant nursing students in graduate entry-to-practice nursing programs: A case study
Zerina Lokmic-Tomkins, Claire Tanner, Narelle Warren
Nurse Education Today vol: 116 first page: 105445 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105445
5. Experiences of pregnant and parenting students at a university in Gauteng province
Moroti E. Mahlangu, Tshiamo N. Ramalepa, Lucky O. Letswalo
Health SA Gesondheid vol: 29 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2547
6. Making it to the PhD: Gender and student performance in sub-Saharan Africa
Monica Fisher, Violet Nyabaro, Ruth Mendum, Moses Osiru, Joseph Telfair
PLOS ONE vol: 15 issue: 12 first page: e0241915 year: 2020
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241915
7. Birth timing: supporting female graduate students
Brita J. Fosse, Jane M. Tram, Ravneet K. Dhaliwal, Crystal C. Webb, Emily Kearns
Journal of Further and Higher Education vol: 48 issue: 4 first page: 359 year: 2024
doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2024.2348111
8. Nursing education research in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis
Beth Waweru, Peter Gatiti, Serah Wachira, Miguel Ángel Armengol de la Hoz
PLOS Digital Health vol: 4 issue: 6 first page: e0000900 year: 2025
doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000900
9. Combining academic studies with family life: Insights from ultra-orthodox nursing student-mothers with four or more children
Laurie Glick, Adi Finkelstein
Heliyon vol: 10 issue: 22 first page: e40422 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40422
10. Effect of sexual violence on planned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Francis Appiah, Joseph Kojo Oduro, Francis Sambah, Linus Baatiema, Eugene Budu, Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
SSM - Population Health vol: 11 first page: 100601 year: 2020
doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100601
11. Nourishing two hearts: The journey of nursing student mothers during academic studies and clinical rotations: A qualitative study
Laurie Glick, Eliyahu M. Heifetz, Adi Finkelstein
Nurse Education in Practice vol: 79 first page: 104068 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104068