African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 156-162, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the experiences and coping strategies of barren elderly women, in Ondo State, Nigeria

*Osayuki E. N, Owofio C. James and Osondi V. Florence

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 20 April, 2015

Abstract

In Nigeria, barren elderly women face many challenges of daily living among which are loss of husbands and features of barrenness. The knowledge of such experiences will assist practicing nurses and social workers to understand special care and social support needs of barren elderly women. This study therefore examined the specific experiences (cultural and interactional), the feelings, and the coping strategies of the barren elderly women. It also assesses the roles of family members in their care. Forty-four (44) barren elderly women selected by snow balling technique from eight (8) randomly selected local government areas formed the study population. A semi structural interview schedule from world health organization standard interview guides for assessment of the health of barren elderly women was the major instrument used for data collection. The interview schedule was tested for validity and reliability before being used for final data collection. Data collection took twelve (12) weeks. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics showed that about two third (2/3) of the study population attributed state of fear, anxiety, helplessness, neglect, abandonment, frustration and stigmatization trend to the negative effect of competition especially in polygamous setting. However, 61.4%believed that they were being stigmatized as a result of barrenness. Findings also revealed that the health status of barren elderly women is significantly related to their support. Besides, there is a significant relationship between the ages of barren elderly and their health status (x² 15.22; P<0.01). However the study founded no significant association between the health status of the widowed and non widowed barren elderly women. Lastly there was an association between educational status and health status of the respondents. The study therefore concluded that the health status of the barren elderly women was mostly affected by income, age, effects of barrenness, familiar care coupled with social support and some varying degrees of common ailments being experienced by them.

Keywords: Barren elderly women, health status, socio-demographic condition, social experience.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 233-238, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study on the attitudes and socio-cultural practices affecting the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth in Oyo State, Nigeria

*Bala V. Micheal, Kashim M. Mallam and Abubakar Mohammed

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria.

E-mail:[email protected]

Accepted 7 June, 2015

Abstract

Background: The problems of increased maternal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries like Nigeria have been associated with attitudes and socio-cultural practices of women during pregnancy and childbirth. Knowledge, culture and experience determine expectation of pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. Social cultural practices reflect attitudes, belief held by people for generations. Every social group worldwide has unique cultural practices and beliefs, whether beneficial or harmful. Harmful practices like food restriction and traditional practices during pregnancy may result to maternal malnutrition and poor maternal health. Women with these health conditions could have babies with low birth weight, neonatal deaths and still births. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and socio-cultural practices that affect the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth. It is also aimed to identify the extent to which Social Support and Self- Efficacy perceptions influence cultural practices. Materials and method: Sample for the study was made up of 405 women who have delivered babies a year prior to the study. Moniya is made up of seven villages. Five villages were randomly selected for study. Systematic sampling was adopted. In each of the 5 villages studied, every third household was sampled and all the women who have had children a year prior to the study was included. Two instruments, questionnaire and focus group discussion were used for data collection. Four women of childbearing age vast with knowledge of pregnancy related risk factors were trained as interviewers. Data were analyzed with the use of EPI- INFO (version 6.0). Positive attitudes to keep healthy, like attending antenatal (ANC) regularly, eating high protein foods and vegetables were emphasized. Results: An important finding from the Focus Group Discussion(FGDs) was that majority of the pregnant women avoided eating bush meat “To avoid having deformed babies” that looks like animals. Green vegetables for the common belief that eating such might cause their babies to hiccough, gasp during breast feeding and Plantain delayed closure of fontanel respectively. Results also showed that 27(6.6%) with no formal education and 168(41.5%) who completed secondary education registered and regularly attended ANC. These showed that the more educated the pregnant women were, the more they registered and attended the ANC. Conclusion: From the findings of the study periodic health education of pregnant women on how to minimize unhealthy cultural practices is recommended.

Keywords: Attitudes, socio-cultural, practice, pregnancy.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 139-144, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Health seeking behaviour of mothers and their perceived cause of childhood measles in Bayelsa, Nigeria

*Jimoh Toyin Rotimi, Oluwarotimi T. E and Olagunsoye Momodu

Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 20 April, 2015

Abstract

The need for intensive health education activities to mothers about childhood measles is a priority assignment in Africa as childhood measles is a common cause of a serious vaccine preventable disease. This is why the numerous health providing bodies and groups focus on the appropriateness of seeking health care at health facilities. This study assessed mothers’ perceived cause and health seeking behaviour when their under five years old children present with measles with a view to determine whether mothers socio-demographics, perceived cause of childhood measles, factors that delays mothers from seeking prompt and appropriate care of measles and how perceived cause of childhood measles all affect health seeking behaviour. Mothers who have visited Amassoma general hospital and had their children treated at least once for measles were assessed using a descriptive survey design employing convenience sampling technique for selecting the sampling frame of 100 respondents. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that subjects’ age ranged from 16-40 years with a mean age of 28.55 years. Fifty one percent of the respondents were single parents, 32% were married. Eighty two had formal education. Regarding their occupational state, mothers showed that 51% were students, 27% were housewives and 17% were self-employed. Seventy three percent of the respondents think measles is caused by too much heat and their sources of information were older women (50%) or self generated (10%). Factors that delayed the mothers from seeking prompt and appropriate care are that mothers do not think lack of immunization is responsible for measles (68%) and that they take their children to older women 65% in addition to lack of finance. Health seeking behaviour of mothers showed that 56% go to herbalist/traditional healer, 25% to a vendor shop and 13% to clinic/hospital with 69% using modern method for treatments. However, 62% described it as an ineffective treatment. It is concluded that mothers perceived cause and health seeking behaviour in childhood measles is far from adequate and hence efforts should be geared towards mothers to put to an end the change in mortality and morbidity rate we observe for this disease.

Keywords:  Measles, health seeking, behaviour, childhood, mothers, Bayelsa- State.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 429-435, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

A study of the contentment of helpless patients’ with quality of treatment in Federal Tertiary Hospitals, Enugu, Southeast, Nigeria

*¹Ehiedu I. K. Promise, ²Akintola B. Dorati and C. J Ojuku²

¹Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

²Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:  ik. [email protected]

Accepted 27 August, 2015

Abstract

The satisfaction of patients with the care they receive from healthcare providers has become one of the most important approaches to the measurement of the quality of care in recent times as against the predominantly clinical and administrative approaches. This is because patients’ satisfaction could serve as index for compliance and non-compliance with care regimen. The study was to determine helpless patients’ satisfaction with quality of care received at tertiary hospitals in Enugu. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. A total population of 105 helpless patients (those that need assistance with the activities of daily living) were studied. Tools for data collection were questionnaire and interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that helpless patients were satisfied with physical and psychological care but satisfaction with spiritual care was marginal. Nurses seemed to lack skills for meeting spiritual needs of the patients. Patients’ satisfaction with nurses attitude was marginally positive. The study showed that there was need for improvement in the care nurses provide for helpless patients in the spiritual dimension. Opportunities for continuing education programme in spiritual care and in interpersonal relationship need to be addressed.

Key words: Helpless patients, satisfaction, quality, nursing care, tertiary hospitals.