Involvement of Nurses in

Research in Malawi
Alfred Maluwa, PhD
Research Director
University of Malawi
Kamuzu College of Nursing
Global Health Research Launch Meeting
Kamuzu College of Nursing
4th October, 2012.

Introduction
In the University of Malawi, promotion
of faculty is based on publication in
peer reviewed journals
Faculty at KCN have to teach students;
supervise them during clinical and
community
placements;
set,
administer and mark examinations

Introduction
Faculty of KCN have to meet the four
essential
elements
of
university
education:
a)

enabling students to acquire skills and

knowledge in preparation for practice
after they graduate

b)

equipping students
solving skills

with

problem-

Introduction
c.

generation of new knowledge for the

benefit of the nursing / midwifery
profession and the wider community,

d.

transmission and preservation of societys

values.

The challenge is on how to balance the

importance of teaching, nursing practice,
and research /publications

Importance of Research in
Nursing
Enables recognition of the past through
the researchers acknowledgment of the
present / existing knowledge.
Leads to reflection, synthesis, and
identification of gaps in knowledge
through critical appraisal of the
literature.

Importance of Research in
Nursing
The research process itself allows for opportunity
to think logically, communicate effectively with
editors, reviewers, and readers, and therefore
sharpens argumentation.
Researchers develop attributes in working
systematically,
dealing
with
conflict,
truthfulness, and transparency in origins of
ideas or concepts.
Research experience provides
improves nursing practice

evidence

that

Importance of Research in
Nursing

Importance of Research in
Nursing
Best practices in nursing are developed
through rigorous research conducted by
nurse scientists
The faculty members who publish benefit
from the peer-review process
Their research findings and ideas are
presented to the clinical services and
academic world

Importance of Research in
Nursing

Status of Global Research in

Nursing
Nurse scholarly productivity is not uniformly
distributed across the world.
Out of 1286 articles on nursing education research in
major journals published between 1991 and 2000,
90% of the articles were from North America and
Europe.
Nursing research and publications were poorly
developed in the UK and lagged behind other
university disciplines.

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
Kamuzu College of Nursing was opened in
1979
The aim is to prepare most highly qualified
nursing and midwifery personnel for the
Malawian nation
The college focuses on total student and staff
development geared towards addressing
both the current and emerging health issues

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college encourages faculty to
integrate the findings of vibrant
research and outreach programs to
inform practice
Faculty should pursue excellence in
practice through own professional
and personal development

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
After 27 years of its existence, (1979 to
2005) the research outputs at the
college were very low;
There were 57 faculty; 6 PhD holders, 32
with Masters Degree, and 19 with B.Sc.
There were 42 publications translating to
1.4 faculty members per publication

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
A total of 16 published articles were
associated with only 2 faculty members
Some of the articles were published as
early as 1988 showing that research
output per year was very low
Some of the publications were from
faculty in the basic department

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
Most of the publications came from
research projects
Most faculty did not have research
projects
The situation has improved with the
introduction of postgraduate programs

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college has 5 Masters programs in
clinical specializations;
M.Sc. (Midwifery); M.Sc. (Reproductive
Health); M.Sc. (Child Health Nursing);
M.Sc. (Community and Mental Health
Nursing);
M.Sc. (Nursing and Midwifery Education).

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
Students are undertaking research on
different topics within each masters
program
Students are encouraged to publish their
research results
Hence the number of publications
(research output) has increased to 23 in
the current year.

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college has 66 faculty in 4 departments;
Basic studies, Maternal and Child Health, Medical
Surgical Nursing and Community.
There is 1 full professor
3 Associate professors
13 Senior Lectures
34 Lecturers
7 Assistant Lectures
8 Clinical instructors

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college continues to collaborate with the
postgraduates students after they have
graduated to jointly implement research
programs
The college has as of August, 2012 been
designated a World Health Organization
Collaborating
Centre
(WHO
CC)
for
Excellence in Inter Professional Education
and Practice

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college is developing a PhD program in
inter professional Health Sciences
The program will further strengthen research at
Kamuzu College of Nursing
Kamuzu College of Nursing is collaborating with
other Universities abroad, Norway, USA, UK,
Ireland, Australia

Status of Research at Kamuzu

College of Nursing
The college is also engaged in regional
collaboration (Botswana, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
Zambia)
The college is also collaborating with
institutions in the country
(College of Medicine, Luanar, FHI, NAC,
Ministry of Health, CHAM Nursing Institutions,
Malawi College of Health Sciences, NGOs)

Concluding remarks
Research is very important for evidence
based nursing practice
Kamuzu College of Nursing has
strategically placed herself to
implement more research programs and
increase research outputs (Publications,
inventions, patents)

Thank you for your attention