African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 713-720, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pregnant women’s experiences with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) at a hospital in Accra, Ghana

*Henry Kwame, Daniel Appiah and Adongo Amewu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 July, 2016

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe pregnant women’s experiences of acquiring and living with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) at a hospital in Accra, Ghana. Background: In the past 20 years, the prevalence of GDM has increased dramatically. The impact of being diagnosed with GDM, such as developing medical complications and associated lifestyle changes, has rarely been investigated in low to middle income countries. Methods: The descriptive phenomenological approach was used. Ten pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were recruited. Semi structured interviews were used to collect data. Findings: The findings indicated that participants had challenges with life style modifications. Managing GDM affected their psychological wellbeing. They feared that they could develop Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; others felt it had spiritual connotations. The participants found the support of family, friends and medical staff to be helpful. We believe that hearing the experiences of participants living with GDM will help medical personnel to render the care and advice needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy outcome. The findings of this research are adding to existing knowledge and form a basis for further research. It potentially can inform policies related to patient education.

Keywords: Experiences, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Lifestyle modifications, Psychological and Social experiences.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 689-694, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Willingness of women to utilize post natal care services in Edu L.G.A of Kwara State, Nigeria

*Abubakar Kunle¹, Akanbi Lawal² and Salihu Rashidi²

¹Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kogi State University Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria.

²Department of Nursing, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 14 October, 2016

Abstract 

This study determines the knowledge and utilization of post natal care services in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Two objectives were set, the corresponding research questions were answered and a hypothesis was tested in this study. This study adopted descriptive research design using researcher’s developed questionnaire as instrument for data collection. A split-half test of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. Four hundred and eighty women were purposively sampled for the study. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency count and mean percentages to answer research questions. The inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to test null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings show that women of childbearing age knowledge about postnatal care services was very high, but women showed poor willingness to utilization of post natal care services in Edu Local Government Area. This study recommended that Edu LGA health unit, Kwara State and Federal ministries of health and Non-governmental Organizations should strengthen the health education intervention programmes on the promotion of post natal visits and to improve the maternal health awareness on the significant of post natal care services utilization in the existing primary health care centres.

Keywords: Knowledge, Edu Local Government Area, Knowledge and utilization, Post natal care services, Post natal visit, Women of childbearing age, Maternal health services.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 704-712, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness level of safe sex among students of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Ali Onoja¹, Ahmed Bala² and Mustapha Umar²

¹Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medical Science, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.

²Department of nursing Science, College of Medical Science, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 April, 2016

Abstract

Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Safe sex, Students, Medical sciences.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 5 (2), pp. 695-703, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of nurse-patient relationship on patients recovery at NKST hospital Mkar, Gboko, Benue State

*James Nwosu¹, Vincent Inyama¹ and Chibuiko Emeka²

¹Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Benue State University, Markudi, Nigeria.

²Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia, Nigeria.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 20 September, 2016

Abstract

The research is a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted at NKST Hospital Mkar, Gboko, Benue State to study the nurse-patient relationship as it affects recovery of patient at the Hospital. Target population for the study was 150. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants after stratified sample technique was used to group the participants into different strata of nurses and patients. Data was collected through the use of self-constructed questionnaire which was administered by the researchers and trained assistants. Data collected were presented in frequency and percentage. Mean scores were used to analyze the data. 2.50 were chosen as the bench mark (≥2.5 as criteria of acceptance). Inferential statistics (chi-square) [X2] was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that there was relative cordial nurse-patient relationship and this has impacted positively on the care of patient as most patients agreed to have been cared for psychologically- a very important aspect of patient recovery from ill-health. However, some barriers such as shortage of nurses, lack of incentives from the management to the nurses were identified as impeding on the adequate expected nurse-patient relationship. It was recommended that the nurses should work hard to deepen helping relationship between the patients and nurses even as they improve on their communication skills, verbally and non-verbally to ensure a more thrusting relationship among them.

Keywords: Nurse, patient, relationship, recovery, hospital.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 679-688, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative assessment of maternal and child health outcomes in communities with and without midwives service scheme in Osun State, Nigeria

Christiana Abidemi Adefi and Omolola Irinoye

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]. Tel. +234 80642 59616.

Received 03 August, 2016;  Revised 20 September, 2016; Accepted 30 October, 2016 and Published 30 November, 2016

Abstract

Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) was introduced in 2009 to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. The study aimed to provide an independent appraisal of MSS, as it relates to expected activities of midwives and community members’ judgment of the scheme, compared with non-MSS facilities. Exploratory study was conducted using systematic and purposive sampling method to select 400 mothers and 49 gatekeepers respectively. Questionnaire, interview guide and hospital checklist were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive (frequencies, percentages and tables) and inferential (Mann-Whitney U test) statistical methods. Findings showed that higher proportion (93.3%) of MSS mothers had positive perception of midwives’ interventions compared to non-MSS mothers (53.3%). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in the perception of midwives’ interventions by mothers in MSS and non-MSS communities (U=239.00, p =0.001). Study also showed that majority of MSS community members recognized the interventions of midwives, especially those that are community-based, compared to non-MSS community members.  Conclusively, MSS community members positively perceived midwives’ interventions better than their counterparts in non-MSS communities. Due to community-based MCH services, MCH outcomes were better in MSS communities than non-MSS communities, thus validating the positive impact of midwives’ interventions in improving MCH.

Keywords: Midwives Service Scheme, MSS Mother, Non-MSS Mother, MSS Community, gatekeepers, maternal and child health outcomes, midwives’ interventions, perception.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 667-673, October, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research

A reflective study on the reasons for increase of Cesarean section rate

Enver E. Mula¹*, Andon B. Aurela², Tony Elhaida³, Elvana Gaçe³ and Andon Martins James³

¹Departament of Medical- Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences, Tiranë, Albania.

²Deparatament of Obstetric- Gynecology, Maternity Hospital " Koço Gliozheni " Tiranë, Albania

³Departament of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences, Tiranë, Albania.

E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 5 August, 2016

Abstract

Cesarean section is a surgical procedure which allows the child to birth through uterus incision. Cesarean birth is a procedure that gives resolve problems such as maternal and fetal complications. To study the incidence of cesarean birth, 1982 to 2000 with 2011 to 2013 years were compared to determine indications that contribute to the trend of the increasing number of cesarean deliveries. We studied the clinical charts of 2011 to 2013 from the statistic department of Maternity Hospital "Koço Gliozheni" Tiranë, Albania. For statistical analysis, Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 11.5 package was used. This is a descriptive study and values will be presented in frequency and percentage. Study of clinical charts of 2011 to 2013 resulted in an average rate of cesarean deliveries of approximately 32.3%. In the year 1982 to 1984, the percentage of cesarean birth was approximately 8.7%, while in 1999 to 2000 the percentage of cesarean birth was approximately 21.7%. Indications that are most important in this study that have contributed to an increase in the number of cesarean births are preeclampsia (9.2%), fetal suffering (13.9%), premature rupture of membranes (9.8%) and the indication which has greater influence in the rising rate of cesarean delivery is previous cesarean births (36.5%). The most frequent reasons for cesarean births in the center where the study was conducted for years January, 2011 till December, 2013 are: previous cesarean section, preeclampsia, fetal suffering. So, previous cesarean births are the most important factor in making decisions about the way of delivery, while in 1982 to 1984 the important factor was fetal suffering. Previous cesarean birth and multiple pregnancies (due to the increased number of in vitro fertilization) represent a growing trend. However, this high percentage of cesarean births in our center is unwarranted, so physicians should be very careful when they select patients for cesarean section. Careful monitoring of the fetus will help in reducing cesarean birth rate in our hospital.

Key words: Cesarean section, fetal and maternal complications, maternal indications, fetal indications.