IMPACT OF INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF NURSING AND OBSTETRICAL STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF PARAKOU

The evolving needs of healthcare systems and the increasing number of students in health sciences schools necessitate a transformation of teaching practices. This study evaluates the impact of innovative teaching methods on the academic performance of nursing and midwifery students and analyzes the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in their learning. A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted at the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery Training (IFSIO) of the University of Parakou. Quantitative data include 53,068 exam grades covering four academic years (2021–2025) and questionnaires completed by 287 students. Multivariate analysis using linear regression with robust standard errors assessed the effect of innovative methods on grades. Thematic analyses complemented the qualitative data on ICT use. Innovative teaching methods are associated with an average increase of 0.49 points in grades (β = 0.488; 95% CI [0.393-0.582]; p < 0.001). The effect varies across years, with a more pronounced impact in 2024-2025. Furthermore, 97.2% of students use ICT in their learning, primarily online courses (75.6%) and the internet (51.6%). The impact of ICT is perceived as positive by 90.9% of students for learning and by 90.2% for academic performance.