The effect of communication skills of the midwives working for basic health services on their status relating to training people about health

The study was performed for examining the effect of communication skills of the midwives working for basic health services on their status relating to training people about health.
This descriptive study was performed between 01.03.2008 and 01.05.2008 in 6 health centers and in a family planning center existing in city center of Ordu Province. It was aimed to include all of 100 (86.21% of population) midwives working for these clinics in the study. Data were collected through "Personal information form" and "Inventory for communication skills" for the study.
Descriptive statistics, t test, variance analysis and correlation were employed in data evaluating for the study. Oral consent was taken from the participants included in the study done after a written permission was issued by City health Directorate.

Age average of the midwives is 35.5±6.01 and 65% of them have associate degree. 47% of them stated that, they participate in social activities and 52% of them stated that, they had training on job on communication. 62% of the midwives expressed that, they have been experiencing difficulties during public training on health relating to communication. 77% of the midwives stated that, communication skills are effective during public training. It was determined that, points of the midwives for communication are 174.12±14.57. It was understood that, communication skills of the midwives with less experience in basic health services are better than those of the midwives having more experience (r=-0.216, p<0.05). It was understood that, communication skills of the midwives trained on communication are better than those of the midwives not trained (t=2.657, p<0.01). It was found that, ages, education status, marital status, towns in which they live, their status for participating social activities and the status for experiencing problems during public trainings on health do not effect their communication skills (p>0.05).