Synergy between Skilled and Traditional Birth Attendants on Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care in Nigeria (Published)
Maternal and newborn health remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, with high maternal and neonatal mortality rates persisting in many regions. The coexistence of formal healthcare systems with traditional birth practices provides a unique opportunity for synergy between Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to improve the quality of maternal and newborn care. This study explores the potential benefits of collaboration between SBAs and TBAs in Nigeria and investigates the barriers and facilitators to such cooperation. The findings highlight the complementary strengths of SBAs and TBAs. SBAs bring formal medical training, evidence-based practices, and access to medical resources, while TBAs possess cultural knowledge, community trust, and local birthing expertise. Through joint training and capacity building initiatives, TBAs can be equipped with updated medical knowledge, improving their ability to identify high-risk pregnancies and refer cases to skilled healthcare providers effectively. Effective referral systems play a pivotal role in ensuring timely access to emergency obstetric care. Challenges to collaboration include cultural and traditional beliefs, language barriers, limited access to resources, and legal and regulatory obstacles. Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive approach that promotes cultural sensitivity, mutual respect, and inclusiveness within the healthcare system. The study concludes that harnessing the synergy between SBAs and TBAs can lead to a more integrated and effective maternal and newborn healthcare system in Nigeria. By leveraging the strengths of both groups and creating an enabling environment for collaboration, Nigeria can make significant strides towards reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, improving the quality of care, and achieving better health outcomes for mothers and newborns. Continued research and collaborative efforts are essential to capitalize on this synergy and drive positive change in maternal and newborn healthcare across the country.
Keywords: Maternal, Quality, Skilled birth attendants, newborn care, synergy, traditional birth attendants
Heavy Metal Assessment of Borehole Water Use in Oil Refinery Host Communities (Published)
The research was carried out to assess heavy metal presence in borehole water used in eleme Port Harcourt Refinery host communities in Rivers State. The physicochemical parameters determined include: Temperature, pH, turbidity, alkalinity, and total dissolved solid (TDS) using conventional equipment and standard laboratory procedures, also the concentration of of Pb, Hg, Fe, CD, SO4, SO3, CO3 and Cl-, were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer(AAS), bacterial analysis were carried out and characterized using standard methods. The results showed that physical parameters such as pH, temperature and turbidity in some communities did not show any reason for concern. The chemical parameters measured are within the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) standard except for cadmium which show a very high concentration with the range of 0.13-0.48mg/l as compared to approved 0.003mg/lof World Health Organisation and 0.05mg/l of National standard for Drinking Water Quality respectively. Also, the concentration of iron (Fe) was very high in all the communities sampled with the range of 0.19 -0.44mg/l as compared to approved 0.3mg/l of WHO and NSDWQ. The concentration of of Cadmium (Cd)detected was very high compared to the approved standard of World Health Organisation and National Standard for Drinking Water Quality as it ranges from 0.00-0.4750mg/l. The presence of Cadmium may be due to the leaching of petroleum and hydrocarbon compounds in the sampled area. Intervention of Government and Non- governmental Organisation is highly recommended.
Keywords: Borehole, Community, Quality, water
Assessment of Availability and Quality of Family Planning Services in Private Health Facilities in Plateau State, Nigeria (Published)
Worldwide, there are inequitable differences in both the availability and quality of family planning services provided in different geographical regions of the world. In Nigeria’s 2018 Demographic Health Survey, only 10.5% of women use a modern contraceptive method with 40.8% of users sourcing them from private sector providers. Despite the complementary role played by the private health facilities, women do not access and use family planning methods adequately. This study assessed the availability and quality of family planning services provided by private health facilities (PHFs) in Plateau state Nigeria. The study was a facility based cross-sectional study of private health facilities across the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau state. A checklist questionnaire adapted from a combination of similar researches was used to capture details on availability and the quality of family planning services rendered by these private health facilities. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Three hundred and fifty-six (356) private health facilities were covered in this study, the availability of family planning (FP) in Plateau state PHFs was found to be adequate in 75.3% of the facilities. The quality of family planning services was assessed, majority (59.6%) of the private health facilities has high quality. However, this does not go hand-in-hand with the availability of the same services. Reason for this was due to the differences in location, staff strength, different support given to facilities and the training of staff of the PHFs in the provision of family planning. Only 59% of these facilities were able to score above 13.5 on quality score and thereby considered as having high quality. There is need for more private health facilities inclusion in all forms of manpower development in family planning by government and other partners; this is to help improve the quality of family planning services in the private health sector of the state and country at large.
Citation: Tuamlong T A., Chirdan O., Gaknung B.K, Onyejekwe, G. I., Oyedele E.A. (2023) Assessment of Availability and Quality of Family Planning Services in Private Health Facilities in Plateau State, Nigeria, International Journal of Public Health, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Vol. 8, No.1, pp.1-17
Keywords: Availability, Quality, family planning services, private health facilities
Perceived Effects of Continuing Professional Development on Quality Nursing Care In Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State (Published)
Citation: Cecilia Olusolape Adeyemo and Oke Olapeju Ajibade (2022) Perceived Effects of Continuing Professional Development on Quality Nursing Care In Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, International Journal of Public Health, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Vol. 7, No.1, pp.30-40
The study examined the perceived effects of continuing professional development on quality nursing care in Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State. The study specifically explored the perception of nurses’ knowledge about the effect of continuing professional development programmes in achieving quality nursing care; and identified the initiators and barriers to implementation continuing professional development of nurses in the hospital. The population of this study consisted of nurses working at State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State. The sample size includes 94 nurses selected through stratified random sampling technique. The data collected includes the demographic data of the sample, their perceived knowledge of CPD, motivating factors and the barriers of participating in CPD programmes. The instrument was given to tests and measurement expert and nurse educators to determine its face and content validity. The data collected were presented in percentage distribution tables. Common themes responses to the open-ended questions’ responses were identified, coded and analyzed to assess the unique perspectives and different views of the nurses on the phenomenon. The findings of the study revealed that the value of CPD and their previous participation in the programmes have improved their knowledge, skills and have contributed to improved quality nursing care of patients. The factors identified as motivators include; funding assistance, obtaining a CPD qualification with skills allowance entitlement, encouragement from management and role models demonstrating the value of career development. The major barriers to participating in CPD programmes in the hospital include; job responsibilities due to staff shortage, lack of motivation by the management, coherent staff development planning by the institution, promotion and funding and responsibility for the family and child care. It was recommended among others that the Hospitals’ Management Board should fund the programmes and employ more nurses so that hindrances due to job responsibility and staff shortage will be minimized
Keywords: CPD, Nursing care, Quality, perceived effects