Abstract

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between midwifery students' opinions of male midwives and gender role attitudes and the effect of education on gender roles.

Method: The setting of the research was formed by 263 midwifery students studying at the Giresun University Health Sciences Faculty Midwifery Department during the 2016-2017 academic year and the study was completed with 243 students. Data were collected by "Information Form" and "Gender Roles Attitude Scale (GRAS)". Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used in the evaluation of the data and t-test was used in the independent samples.

Results: The mean GRAS score of the students who had positive opinions on male midwives was higher than that of the students who had negative opinions on male midwives (p <0.05). The mean GRAS score of the students who got gender equality course was (161.38 ± 14.90) was higher than that of the students who did not attend the course (151.59 ± 13.76). The difference was found statistically significant (p <0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results obtained, it can be said that the students who believe that male midwives should be included in the midwifery profession and contribute positively to the development of the profession have a more egalitarian gender role attitude.