Authors
- Ezgi Dirgar, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gaziantep University, University Blvd, 27310, Şahinbey, Gaziantep, Türkiye
- Tuba Yaman, Independent Researcher, Gaziantep, Türkiye
- Nursemin Ünal, Ankara University, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery Department, Ankara, Türkiye
- Betül Tosun, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Türkiye
DOI
https://doi.org/10.65241/wh.8.1.6
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Background:
Sustainable development is a key concept shaping the future in economic, environmental, and social dimensions. It is essential for healthcare professionals to be aware of this issue. Midwifery, directly impacting individual and public health, plays a role in achieving sustainable development goals. This study aims to assess the awareness levels of midwifery students in different regions of Turkey regarding sustainable development, identify educational gaps, and propose improvements.
Methods:
This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 404 midwifery students from two universities in Turkey during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Sustainable Development Awareness Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0, and normality was tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Descriptive statistics included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The average age of participants was 21.24±2.85 years. While 84.4% had heard of sustainability, 92.1% had not received formal education on the topic. Additionally, 66.1% were unaware of the sustainable development goals, yet 81.2% believed midwifery contributes to achieving them. The total scale score average was 152.14±20.54. Higher awareness was observed among first-year students, those familiar with sustainability, and those whose families worked in the service sector (p<0.005).
Conclusions:
Midwifery students demonstrated above-average awareness of sustainable development. However, those exposed to sustainability education or familiar with the concept had significantly higher awareness. These findings emphasize the need to integrate sustainable development topics into midwifery curricula and develop educational programs to enhance awareness.
Keywords:
Midwifery, Midwifery students, Sustainability, Sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals.