Effective Clinical Teaching Practice and Associated Factors Among Midwifery Educators in Public Universities of Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Although effective clinical teaching realistically improves learners to be competent, in Ethiopia only 31.6% of midwifery graduates have passed the national proficiency standard for graduation. Likewise, research evidence is lacking on effective clinical teaching practice of midwifery educators in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess effective clinical teaching practice and associated factors among midwifery educators in public universities of Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2019 on 424 midwifery educators selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through email by using a semi-structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire, entered into Epi-data version 4.2, and analyzed by SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to test the association. The odds ratio at 95% confidence interval (CI) and P-value <0.05 were used to ascertain statistical significance. RESULTS: Only 178 (47.3%) of participants had effective clinical teaching practice. Clinical teaching experience (AOR= 4.72; 95% CI=1.97, 11.29), training on higher diploma in teaching profession (AOR=2.78; 95% CI=1.61, 4.82), clinical teaching workshop (AOR=4; 95% CI=1.98, 8.05), students per clinical unit (AOR= 3.71; 95% CI= 1.66, 8.26), giving objectives of clinical learning for students (AOR= 4.74; 95% CI=2.43, 9.25), using performance-based assessment tool (AOR =1.82; 95% CI=1.04, 3.16) and having good interest in clinical teaching (AOR=8.63; 95% CI=2.91, 25.56) were factors positively associated with effective clinical teaching practice. CONCLUSION: Less than half of midwifery educators of Ethiopian Public Universities had effective clinical teaching practice. The educators’ clinical teaching experience, training, and adherence to clinical teaching standards were identified to affect effective clinical teaching positively. Therefore, educators should adhere to the standards for effective clinical teaching and receive training on effective teaching.