Awareness and Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Published)

This study examined awareness and utilization of maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age in rural areas in Akwa Ibom State.  Three objectives and three research questions were raise to guide this study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and the population of this study was 303,768 females of reproductive age in the study area and a sample size of 246 women of reproductive age drawn through purposive sampling technique was used for the study. A researcher-developed questionnaire titled Awareness and Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Care Services Questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.73 was the instrument for data collection. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The findings of the study indicated that there was a great awareness of maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age; utilization of maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age was good; there was a great level of utilization of maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age. Based on these findings, it was concluded that there was optimal awareness and utilization of maternal and child health services among women of reproductive age in rural areas in Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that federal, states and local government areas should still need to reach out to other people who do not utilize maternal and child health care services; educating women and men about the importance of maternal and child health care services would make them to utilize the services and efforts should be made to fill health service gaps with substantial success through more community-based facilities and financial subsidies.

Keywords: Utilization, awareness, maternal and child health services

Mothers’ Experiences of Delivery Services by Traditional Birth Attendants at Egbe Community, Yagba West Lga Kogi State, Nigeria (Published)

A lot of women gave birth in their homes historically, and are often attended by a family member or assisted by a woman residing in the communities who are known as Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).The mothers’ experiences before labor, after delivery and care of the new born was a mixed one. This study was aimed to explore mothers’ that have delivered with TBAs in the past at Egbe Community, Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative research design with in-depth interview supported with two Focus Group Discussions as method of data collection, to explore the experiences of mothers’ during with TBAs. Sixteen participants were used for FGD, eight in each group and thirteen participants for one-on-one in-depth interview using a snowball sampling technique. Both the FGD and IDI sessions were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. The research was analysed using a manual method of qualitative data. The findings revealed that majority of the participants used the services of traditional birth attendants because of the affordable cost. Majority were delivered at their homes and they had good experience. Relatives were allowed to stay with them during labor. They were not given food during labor and their babies were taken good care of. However, few of them would like to deliver at a regular hospital in next delivery due to some complications they experienced. In conclusion, many of the women patronized TBAs because of the cost and services provided were just basic. Therefore, it’s recommended that the cost of delivery at the hospitals should be subsidised and the TBAs should be trained and supervised on a regular basis by the Primary health care centres at the Local Government Areas nearest to them.

 

Keywords: Experience, Skilled birth attendants, Traditional Birth Attendants, Utilization, Women

Awareness and Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Primary Health Care Workers in Ilesa, Osun State (Published)

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix which is a cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina. The study investigated the awareness and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among primary health care workers in Ilesa, Osun state. The study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional research design. The sample size was determined by Taro Yamane, which was 192. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select female primary healthcare workers. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire which was divided into three sections. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient for the constructs ranged from 0.72 to 0.85. The descriptive statistics was employed to answer the research questions, while Pearson correlation and chi-square analysis were employed to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that level of awareness and utilisation of cervical cancer screening services was moderate. There was significant relationship between the level of awareness and utilization of cervical screening services among primary health workers (r = .272, p = .000<0.05). Only age (x² = 25.533, p = .003 < 0.05) and ethnicity (x² = 18.520, p = .005 < 0.05) were related to level of awareness of cervical screening services while age (x² = 28.549, p = .000 < 0.05), marital status (x² = 9.077, p = .011< 0.05), monthly income (x² = 19.347, p = .000 < 0.05) and educational qualifications (x² = 51.004, p = .000 < 0.05) were related to level of utilisation of cervical screening services among primary health workers. It was recommended among others that there is need to establish cervical cancer screening education programmes among health care professionals at all levels, especially among nurses.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Screening, Utilization, awareness, cervical cancer

Factors Influencing the Utilization of Infection Prevention and Control Measures (IPCM) Among Nurses in Some Selected State Hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria (Published)

This study investigated the factors influencing the utilization of infection prevention and control strategies (IPCM) among nurses in some selected state hospitals in Lagos State.  It adopts a descriptive cross-sectional research design using multistage sampling technique to recruit 158 nurses. Self-structured questionnaire with reliability index of 0.79 was used for data collection. Obtained data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that 84.8% of respondents used IPCM while 15.2% didn’t use this. The factors reported by respondents to influence utilization of IPCM include; attitude of nurses (p=0.001), unavailability of personal protective equipment (p=0.009), poor knowledge about  IPCM (p=0.034), prompt supervision by hospital’s infection control committee (p= 0.022), accessibility of materials for infection prevention and control (p= 0.042), frequent trainings on infection prevention and control procedures (p= 0.036) while year of practice ( p=0.645) and Qualification (p= 1.000) does not have influence on utilization of IPCM .Majority in this study use IPCM but few do not make use of it which can cause fatal consequences.  Hospitals should set up infection control committee to train and enforce safe practices among nurses and hospital management should also ensure availability accessibility of personal protective equipment to health care workers for safe practice.

Keywords: Factors, Infection control, Nurses, Utilization, infection prevention

Awareness and Attitude towards Utilization of Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents in Calabar Municipality (Published)

Purpose: The main focus of this study was awareness and attitude towards utilization of Reproductive health services among adolescents in Calabar Municipality. Objectives: In order to successfully carry out the study, the following objectives were formulated to guide the study. To determine the level of awareness of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. To assess the attitudes of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. To identify the barriers of adolescents towards utilization of reproductive health services in Calabar municipality. Literature: Literature, was reviewed based on the research variables, Methods: the research instrument used in collecting data for analysis was a questionnaire which was administered on one hundred and fifty (150) adolescents in Calabar Municipality who served as sample for the study. Their responses were analyzed using frequencies, percentage and Pearson product moment correlation analysis and the following results were obtained. Results: in table 3 indicate that 50(33.3%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they did not like reproductive health services because of its complications to health while 3(2%) agreed, 84(56%) of the respondents strongly disagreed while 13 (8.6%) of the respondents disagreed. 40(26.6%) of the respondents strongly agreed, that they like reproductive health services because it prevents unwanted pregnancy, 44(29.3) disagreed, 60(40) of the respondents strongly disagreed while 6(4%) disagreed. 8(26.6%) strongly agreed that they love going to hospital because the nurses there will explain different methods of reproductive health services to them 90(60%) agreed, while 2(1.3%) strongly disagreed, 50(33.3%) disagreed. 80(53.5%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they love reproductive health services because they do not want to be pregnant, 8(5.3%) agreed, 60(40%) strongly disagreed and 2(1.3%) disagreed. 30(20%) of the respondents strongly disagreed that most adolescent choose the wrong method because it offers an appropriate method to each  adolescent 30(20%)  disagreed while 45(30%) agreed, 45(30%) strongly agreed. 45(30%)  of the respondents strongly agreed that most women choose the wrong method because of improper counseling based on culture religion and ignorance 30(20) agreed while 30(20%) strongly disagreed and 45(30%) disagreed. Conclusion: Reproductive health services   were   accessible   to   adolescents   in   Calabar Municipality. And most adolescents were aware of the reproductive health services but fail to utilize it. There is no significant relationship between attitude of reproductive health services and adolescents   utilization of reproductive health; Reproductive health services were available to the public for use. There is no significant relationship between barriers of reproductive health services and adolescents utilization of reproductive health services. Nevertheless, it was concluded that Local   Government   authorities   should   organize   enlightenment campaigns, to educate adolescents in the area on the importance of reproductive health services.

 

Keywords: Adolescence, Reproductive Health, Utilization, attitude, awareness