PURPOSE:
In the context of midwifery care across Barbados and the Caribbean, improving maternal outcomes remains a public health priority. This quality improvement (QI) initiative was implemented to address persistent issues within both primary health care and acute care settings in Barbados. The project was implemented by the first cohort of midwifery students using revised curriculum launched by the Barbados Community College in June 2024. The programme spans eighteen months and emphases real-world application of QI principles within clinical environments.

DISCUSSION:
Educational Context As part of the “Evidence-Based Midwifery Practice” module, four student groups were required to design and implement a QI project and applied the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to identify, address, and pilot solutions to clinical challenges in their assigned workplaces, to develop students’ change management competencies and to become solution-oriented professionals capable of transforming their practice settings.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Baseline audits conducted revealed gaps in antenatal care delivery at selected health institutions, limited family engagement, inconsistent provision of structured health education to pregnant women and their families, and irregular processes for sharing antenatal blood results. Through PDSA-guided interventions, each group implemented focused strategies tailored to address these gaps. Data collected over the pilot phase demonstrated modest but measurable progress across the targeted indicators. Stakeholder feedback reflected improved interdisciplinary collaboration, stronger patient-centred communication, and enhanced confidence among the student midwives. These results validate the effectiveness of embedding QI tools within midwifery training.

KEY MESSAGE:
This initiative demonstrates how midwifery students, can utilize evidence-informed frameworks and enact meaningful change in under-resourced healthcare settings, where staffing, infrastructure and training are limited. These student-led projects illustrate the sustainability of grassroots-level improvements. Key takeaways include the importance of sustained clinical mentorship, structured integration of QI methodologies, and organizational readiness to adopt student-generated innovations, demonstrating the potential of midwifery education to foster a culture of continuous improvement across Caribbean maternal health systems. Education - curriculum 2