African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

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: toyin_jimoh@oauife.edu.ng

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. Ehiendu12@yahoo.com

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.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 257-260, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A community centered assessment of a doctor of nursing practice curriculum

Michael Elliott, *Harvey E. M and Gwyneth R. Greider

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of California, Santa Barbara, California.

E-mail: em.harvey@hotmail.com

Accepted 20 July, 2015

Abstract

A school of Nursing in New York State, USA has admitted five cohorts of students to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. A longitudinal evaluation of the DNP curriculum was conducted to assess the inherent value of the DNP program. Survey responses highlighted the benefits of the DNP degree to the professional growth of graduates; the benefits that accrued to clients in selected clinical care situations; and to the health care system, when applied within organizational initiatives and programs. A limited response rate constrained the ability to draw generalizable conclusions to the full cohort of DNP graduates.

Keywords: Doctor of nursing practice, Outcomes evaluation, Community-based assessment, Program evaluation

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 121-130, May, 2015.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

Factors responsible for perinatal mortality in women giving birth in a health facility in Malawi

*Khumbo J. Malewezi, K. T Muluzi and Bingu H. Chihana

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health and Society, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.

Corresponding author. Email: khumbo_jmz@mzuni.ac

Accepted 17 March, 2015

Abstract

The perinatal mortality rate in Malawi is estimated at 40/1,000 births. Annually 6.3 million babies die in the perinatal period globally, with Africa having the highest perinatal mortality rate. This study was conducted to determine perinatal mortality, to identify associated risk factors, and to determine causes of perinatal deaths at Chiradzulu District Hospital, Malawi. The study was designed as a cross sectional study that prospectively reviewed records of 606 births at the health facility. The perinatal mortality rate was 59.9/1,000 births; the stillbirth rate was 36/1,000 births; and the early neonatal death rate was 24/1,000 live births. Of 16 early neonatal deaths, 63% occurred on the day of birth and 19% in next 48 hours. The primary cause (75%) was birth asphyxia. Significant associations with perinatal death included: number of antenatal visits, most in one visit (29.4%); gestation ≤ 31 weeks (47%); prolonged second stage of labour (22%); premature babies with birth weight ≤1499 grams (61%); and severely asphyxiated babies (46%). There is a need to strengthen the care of delivering women for early provision of comprehensive obstetric care. The high perinatal mortality could be reduced by improving health workers’ ability in resuscitation, as well as care of low birth weight babies.

Keywords: Comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care, early neonatal deaths, perinatal mortality, millennium development goal 4.

Keywords: Consanguinity, inbreeding, Jordan Valley.