TITLE:
Knowledge of Continuing Professional Development and Its Influence on Participation among Midwives at a Tertiary Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
AUTHORS:
Beauty Siansende, Marjorie Kabinga Makukula, Victoria Mwiinga Kalusopa
KEYWORDS:
Continuing Professional Development, Knowledge, Participation, Midwives, Zambia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.6,
June
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is mandatory for midwives in Zambia to maintain licensure, yet low submission rates persist. Understanding the role of knowledge in influencing participation is crucial for designing effective interventions. This study assessed the knowledge of the CPD process among midwives and examined its influence on participation at the Women and Newborn University Teaching Hospital (WNH-UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Using simple random sampling, 300 midwives were recruited. Data were collected with a structured self-administered questionnaire that assessed socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of CPD (purpose, governance, points, timelines), and CPD participation. Knowledge was categorized as adequate (≥60% correct) or inadequate. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were used to examine the association between knowledge and participation at a 5% significance level. Results: The response rate was 97% (n = 300). Overall, 79.3% (n = 238) of midwives had adequate knowledge. However, substantial gaps existed: 75.0% incorrectly believed the NMCZ solely managed CPD, and 50.7% wrongly thought points could be submitted at any time. CPD participation was low (44.3%). In bivariate analysis, adequate knowledge was significantly associated with participation (47.9% vs. 30.6%; p = 0.015). In multivariable logistic regression, adequate knowledge was the only significant predictor, with midwives having 2.44 times higher odds of participating compared to those with inadequate knowledge (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.28 - 4.65, p = 0.007). Conclusions: The study found that midwives’ knowledge of the CPD process significantly affects their participation. However, issues like heavy workloads and lack of support also play a role. Therefore, while targeted educational interventions to address specific knowledge gaps are needed, improving CPD uptake will likely require broader strategies that tackle these practical and systemic challenges.