EFFECT of GENDER COURSE on GENDER PERCEPTION

Introduction: Midwives and nurses have important responsibilities in preventing and reducing reproductive health problems arising from gender inequality. It is very important for midwives and nurses to have equitable attitudes regarding gender roles and to provide service with the same egalitarian point of view for the people they serve and thus to cause them gaining an equitable point of view. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender course on gender perceptions. Method: The population of this study was comprised of the third grade students of midwifery department during the 2017-2018 academic year at a state university in Ankara. All students were included in the study. The participants were informed about the purpose of study by the researchers before data collection and the volunteers were included in the sampling. The students filled in the data collection forms on their own. Results: It was found in our study that the mean score of Perception of Gender Scale of the students who attended the gender course were higher than the students who did not attend and, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.014). In our study, it was determined that the average score of students with nuclear families was lower than those with large families, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). Conclusion: This study suggests that gender lecture should be added to the curricula of health care professions such as midwifery.