| Summary: |
The mother-child binomial is important since 60% of child mortality is related to maternal health. Low birth weight is related to inexistent prenatal control, short intergenetic intervals, maternal diseases such as hypertension, changes in nutrition and lack of education.The purpose of this paper is a) to present a pediatrics teaching model in post-graduation studies, which integrates mother-child binomial; b) to approach the interdisciplinary training and updating of the PHC (primary health care) team through distance education; and c) to promote cooperative teaching coordination (university, province, municipality).Distance education offers professionals the opportunity to be updated without leaving their social and work environment. Study material in modules is sent by e-mail or in digital media (CD). The activities proposed are mainly collectively solved allowing for integration of the different disciplines in the health team. A tutor, two classroom tests and a satisfaction survey were implemented.1,026 participants enrolled in the three courses given with 752 completing the courses: 52% were physicians, 15.8% were nurses, 8.7% were assistants, and 23% were professionals from other areas. The course was closely related to professional performance for more than 70% of participants, contents were understandable and instructions were clear for 90% of participants.Conclusions: Most of the participants (90.7%) were satisfied; the course was a training opportunity for professionals, who reduced education costs and adapted time to study.Some of the difficulties encountered by trainers were: Participants did not know how to use a computer, and some lived in towns of Argentina without Internet service. They had trouble forming a global vision of mother-child binomial.Learning process was not only for participants but also for the university professors, who were enriched by the local experiences and the knowledge of provincial institutions.
|