She obtained a Midwivery Tutor Diploma in England, later a MSc in Public health from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in England, and was the first midwife to receive a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Wales Medical School in Cardiff.
[1][2] In Addis Ababa, Kwast also performed a study on the maternal and child health clinics in the city.
The outcome of the study was compiled in a book, that was also submitted to the University of Wales for a Doctor of Philosophy in 1985.
Gillian M McIlwaine in a review states that Kwast, with the book, titled Unsafe motherhood – a monumental challenge, "has performed an important service for the women of Addis Ababa and by describing the methods of her enquiry she will help others to do likewise in different parts of the world.
Through this initiative, she became a pioneer for the global maternal health movement, and instrumental for making the issue a priority when it comes to international social justice and human rights.