African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 425-428, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

An evaluation of the effects of industrial unrest at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana

*Seth N. Awori and Alexander Tettey-Enyo

Faculty of Management Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, P. O. Box AN 5744, Ghana.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 20 August, 2015

Abstract

This paper assessed the effects of industrial unrest from the perspectives of a cross-section of fifty nurses and patients at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana in West Africa, spanning the period of 2004 to 2008. The deductive study was based on descriptive analyses of statistical data gathered from the data subjects, who were randomly selected. The study revealed that strikes by the nurses in Ghana sent signals to the international community about workers’ unrest in Ghana and increased the national and household expenditure. It also revealed that when the nurses went on strike the health of the patients deteriorated which brought about reduction in the revenue generation of the economy of Ghana. The study recommended that to reduce the frequency of nurses industrial unrests and its impact on Ghana, the Government should take steps to reduce the high wage disparity among the health workers, educate the nurses on the repercussions of their strike actions on patients, put in place crises interventions committee at the hospitals and provide special rewards for the night services of nurses.

Key words: Strike action, ADHA, KBTH.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 214-220, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A review of growth monitoring as an indicator for child survival in 21^st century Nigeria

*Fajure Babalola, Omokiniovo V. Ikuesiri and Omonode Teju

Department of Clinical Nursing, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 May, 2015

Abstract

Growth monitoring has been advocated as an effective, simple and inexpensive way of preventing most childhood malnutrition. In 1990, more than 12 million children in developing countries died before the age of five from diseases such as diarrhea, malnutrition, pneumonia, AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, by 2012, that number had dropped to 6.6 million, yet under five mortality rates remain unacceptably high, especially considering that most of these deaths are due to preventable or treatable causes. The child mortality MDG is one of the goals lagging farthest behind, more than half of all countries are not on track to reduce the under-five death rate by two-thirds by 2015. The World Bank is redoubling efforts in nutrition, health care, infrastructure, and the other areas that can help save children’s lives. UNICEF currently estimates that approximately 146 million children under five worldwide about one in four are underweight. Malnutrition is a direct cause of about half of the more than 10 million child deaths in the developing world each year. More of those deaths come from children who are mildly or moderately malnourished, due to their sheer numbers, as compared to those who are severely malnourished. Effective approaches to preventing malnutrition, especially mild and moderate malnutrition, are essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper therefore, reviewed growth monitoring as an indicator for child survival.

Keywords: Growth monitoring, child, survival and strategies.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 203-209, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A historical Analysis of the works of midwifery and midwives

*Juhayman Abdul, Maher Rahman and Safar Sayed Zafree

College of Nursing, Umm al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

*Corresponding Authors Email: [email protected]

Accepted 25 May, 2015

Abstract

Midwifery, the first holistic profession in the world in which “care” has always been a women-centered phenomenon. It is a socially constructed practice that has gone through many historical transitions. Many of these have involved social controversies in terms of the meaning of care, the scope of its practice, and its standardized skills. The purpose of this paper is to explore and critically examine the major transitions on midwifery during history, looking in particular at the socio-cultural circumstances that are associated with these transitions through an historical analysis. Two objectives are intended to be explored; first, identify the major “macro” socio-cultural factors that shaped different meaning of “concept of care” in midwifery. Second, identify the major “micro” socio-cultural factors that changed the scope of practice in midwifery. Two main search approaches are used to collect the retrieved data; textbooks searching, and computer searching. Textbooks searching phase aims to identify the historical knowledge gap and different views of midwifery transitions based on four historical intervals ranging from Stone Ages era to Early Modern time. Computer searching phase aims to critique the different scholarly views that focus on the major social and cultural factors that shaped the practice scope midwifery during history. During this strategy a comprehensive review of the major electronic databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, and CINAHL was conducted. Midwifery is a woman-centered phenomenon and a socially constructed practice where macro and micro socio-cultural factors played a key role in its transition over the history. Power of social organizations, consistency of civilizations, and productivity of industrialization are the major macro social factors that changed the concept of “care” in midwifery from individualized concern to holistic approach. Gender identity, social class and authority, and accessibility of formal education are the main micro socio-cultural factors that changed the practice of midwifery from un-standardized practice to advanced scientific profession.

Keywords: Midwifery, History, socio-cultural factors

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 363-367, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of human resources in the nursing service sector of Baguio general hospital and medical center, Baguio City, Philippines

*Abdelhakim Raihi, Abdurrahim Abushagur and Hamza Keib Fotia

Faculty of Nursing, Department of Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al Bayda', Libya.

*Correspondence Authors E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 3 August 2015

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the pattern of currently utilized staffing and the importance of factors that can possibly affect the process in the nursing service department of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (PHILIPPINES). A descriptive normative survey was employed with a reliable questionnaire constructed by the authors answered by one hundred thirty (130) available nurses. Gathered data were tallied and subsequently subjected to descriptive statistical treatment using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20.0 (SPSS) employing a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC). Most of the patterns were frequently utilized and most of the factors that can possibly affect the staffing were very important. There is a strong significant relationship between the currently utilized staffing pattern and the factors that affect the process of staffing.

Key words: Nursing, nursing service, staffing, staffing system, staffing pattern.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 239-242, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Reproductive health awareness among urban and rural secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria: A comparative study

*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 18 June, 2015

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to assess and compare reproductive health awareness among urban and rural secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria. A comparative descriptive survey design was used for the study. The sample size consisted of one thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine (1199) Senior Secondary School Students drawn from 87 out of 229 Public Schools using multistage proportionate sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a self developed validated 20 items questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .80. Data collected were coded for entry and analysis was done using population t-test and independent t-test. The findings revealed a statistical difference of t-test calculation of 2.81 of awareness of family planning practices between urban and rural school students. Also results on prevention of STI and HIV/AIDS, prevention of unwanted pregnancy and harmful traditional practices revealed a non statistical calculated t value of 1.13, 1.88, 0.600 which was less than critical value of 1.98. In the light of this study, students from rural schools had limited knowledge on reproductive health issues. This calls for intensive reproductive health awareness by parents and teachers in rural schools. Also, government should include reproductive health education in formal secondary school curriculum.

Keywords: Awareness, Reproductive Health, Family Planning, STI/HIV/AIDS, Unwanted Pregnancy and Harmful Traditional Practices.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 272-275, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the role of serum levels of androgen hormones in idiopathic hirsute women

Usama B.O. Baqir and Muhammad K. Akram*

Department of community Health Nursing, Al Hikma University Iraq.

*Corresponding author Email: [email protected].

Accepted 22 July, 2015

Abstract

To evaluate the role of serum levels of androgen hormones like FT and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in investigation of idiopathic hirsute women and to compare the obtained results with that produced for hirsute women with poly cystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS). We conducted this multi case-control study and single-center analysis of hormones in the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, university of Baghdad and in the Kamal Al-Samarai Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq during the period from November 2012 to July 2013. It included fifty-six hirsute women and twenty-eight non-hirsute healthy control women. The hirsute women were subdivided into two groups according to their etiology of hirsutism; Group 1 PCOS (n=28) and Group 2 Idiopathic hirsutism (IH, n=28). Investigation included serum measurements of FT, TT, DHT, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), PSA, FSH, LH, Prolactin, and 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP) by using enzymes Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Mini-VIDAS techniques. The mean (±SD) values of serum TT and FT concentrations of PCOS women were significantly higher than those of IH women and controls, for both (p<0.0001). However, and of important results, 13 out of the 28 (46 %) IH women and 12 out of the 28 women with PCOS (43 %) had serum FT concentrations above the upper normal reference range,while those who had elevated serum TT concentrations were 4% for IH and 14.0% for PCOS. The mean values of PSA and DHT of IH and PCOS groups did not differ significantly from that of controls, as well as between hirsute women groups themselves. Significant positive correlations were observed between serum FT levels and serum concentrations of each of TT, DHT, PSA, and the score of hirsutism in IH and PCOS groups. This study concluded that measurement of serum FT concentration is the better androgenic marker for investigation of hirsute women with idiopathic and PCOS.

Keywords: Idiopathic hirsutism, polycystic ovary syndrome, androgen hormones.