Factors Associated with Medication Error Underreporting Among Health Care Professionals in Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria (Published)
Medication errors are the commonest form of medical error whereby medications are wrongfully prescribed or used by the patients while in the care of a health professional. Assessing the factors associated with medication error underreporting is a crucial step in identifying and proffering solutions in order to avoid re-occurrence and minimize the unpleasant effect it has on the patient, healthcare professional, facility or the general public. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used to study the factors associated with medication error underreporting. It was carried out among 520 health care professionals comprising of Medical doctors, Pharmacists and Nurses who work in Nigerian Air Force Hospital Ikeja. A semi structured, pre tested questionnaire was randomly distributed to 249 respondents which formed the sample size as calculated using the Slovin’s formular. Findings from this study shows 106 (51.4%) of the respondents which represents more than half strongly agreed that poor working condition was a major factor to under reporting of medication error from the managerial point. Also, 101(49%), 96(46.6%) and 94(45.6%) of the respondents strongly agreed that the other factors included; poor reward system to self-medication reporting, poor utilization of information system to detect and analyze error and unclear channel of communication respectively. Employee factors to medication underreporting recorded was fear of some variables including, litigation (61.2%), criticism (54.4%) and fear of being seen as incompetent (50.5%). It is therefore recommended that management should make it a point of duty to ensure a conducive working environment is created, that employees work under a stress-free environment and that their welfare carted for and importantly ensure that a clear reporting system is put in place which will aid voluntary error reporting.
Keywords: Factors, health care professionals, medication error underreporting
Prevalence of Unplanned Pregnancies and Their Associated Factors Among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division, Colombo, Sri Lanka (Published)
Unplanned pregnancies are a major public health issue globally causing poor maternal and foetal outcomes. The objective is to to determine the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies & their associated factors among antenatal clinic attendees in Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division, Colombo, Sri Lanka.A cross-sectional study was conducted in three randomly selected antenatal clinics of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division of the Colombo Municipal Council. A total of 425 antenatal mothers were included in the study using a consecutive sampling method. Data collection was done using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-Square test, Odds Ratio and 95% confidence interval. The prevalence of unplanned pregnancies was 32.7% in the study population. The 95 % confidence interval was 28.26 – 37.39.Being married, the mother being employed in the preceding 12 months, the number of past conceptions being two or less & intake of folic acid before pregnancy had statistically significant associations with planned pregnancies at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05).Marital age less than 20 years, highest education level of the mother being less than Grade 11, highest education level of the spouse being less than Grade 11, monthly household income of less than LKR 25,000, the interpregnancy interval of fewer than 24 months, using family planning practices in the past, never wanting or expecting the current pregnancy and not planning for another pregnancy had statistically significant associations with unplanned pregnancies at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05).According to the study, one-third of the pregnancies were unplanned & a statistical significance at 95% confidence interval was seen between the planning status of the current pregnancy and twelve of the eighteen variables studied.
Keywords: Colombo, Factors, Sri Lanka, Thimbirigasyaya, antenatal clinic attendees, unplanned pregnancies