A Path Analytic Study of Student and School Performance Indicators as Determinants of Student Midwives’ Performance in Anatomy and Physiology

Abstract

Aims: The study constructed and tested a seven variable model for providing a causal explanation of student midwives’ achievement in Anatomy and Physiology in terms of student performance indicators of entry qualifications, academic self-concept and academic support seeking and school performance indicators of teacher quality, school type and teacher-student ratio. Study Design: The study adopted a survey research. Place and Duration of Study: Schools of Midwifery in Lagos zone of Nigeria, between January 2009 and January 2010. Methodology: The population was made up of 559 student midwives and 73 midwife educators in Nigeria. The four sets of instruments used were Teacher Quality Questionnaire, r = 0.8; Student Midwives’ Academic self concept Questionnaire r = 0.84; Teachers Perception of Student Midwives’ Academic Support-Seeking Questionnaire, r = 0.74; and Achievement Test in Anatomy and Physiology, r = 0.79.Data were analysed using multiple regression and path-analysis. Results: The result showed that only three (3) variables namely: School Type, Teacher Quality and Academic Self Concept had direct causal influence and were significant in determining student midwives’ achievement in Anatomy and Physiology(x7). Conclusion: Recommendations were made based on the findings.