Dr Bupe Mwamba

I am a Maternal and Child Health Specialist who uses quantitative research methods to help improve the health of women, newborns and children, particularly in relation to the life-long health benefits of practices that occur at birth.

I hold a PhD in Midwifery, whose research was focusing on the health of women and newborn babies, from the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. A Masters of Philosophy in Maternal and Child Health (MPhil MCH) degree, which was a sub-specialty of Public Health from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. A Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science from the University of KwaZulu Natal, in Durban, South Africa, besides my General Nursing and Midwifery qualifications I obtained in Zambia.

I am a very passionate advocate for mothers and babies. My current research hopes to ensure that one day EVERY midwife and obstetrician will understand and embrace the practice of delayed cord clamping at birth to reduce anaemia. Anaemia (iron deficiency) and the many problems that result from this is a major health problem in the world and delayed cord clamping may reduce the lifetime risk of anaemia by 60%.

My doctoral study begun with determining the current umbilical cord clamping practices by midwives and obstetricians in Zambia. Followed by umbilical cord clamping guideline collection and appraisal using the AGREE II tool. I concluded my data collection with face-to-face interviews with midwives and key informants from the Ministry of Health Zambia. The results have informed strategies that may be used to increase the diffusion of delayed cord clamping in birth units across Zambia including other low- and middle-income countries where the burden of anaemia is a major public health issue.

I have more than ten years of working experience in different departments, which included Management, Research,Neonatal and Maternity Care in Australia, South Africa and Zambia. In Australia, my roles comprised the following: Clinical Midwife Specialist, Data Auditing for Quality Improvement in the management of COVID-19, Project Officer, Registered Nurse and Midwife. The organisations included the Ministry of Health New South Wales, Royal Hospital for Women, Royal North Shore Hospital, Westmead Hospital, Sydney Local Health District (Flying Squad) and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. 

I have also worked as a Casual Lecturer (Research Methods) in the School of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney. In Cape Town, I was a Problem Based Learning Facilitator for 2nd and 3rd year Medical Students at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. I am currently a Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery.

My research interests are in Epidemiology, Evaluation of Health Care Programs, Audit Reviews, Quality Improvement, Midwifery, Empathy, Philosophical Basis of Nursing, Nursing theories, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Qualifications

• Master of Philosophy (Specialising in Maternal and Child Health) University of Cape Town

• Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Practice) University of Kwazulu-Natal

• Advanced Diploma General Nursing Council of Zambia