Health Care Workers In Nigeria Research Articles

On-demand mobile hypertension training for primary health care workers in Nigeria: a pilot study

BackgroundOnly one out of every ten Nigerian adults with hypertension has their blood pressure controlled. Health worker training is essential to improve hypertension diagnosis and treatment. In-person training has limitations that mobile, on-demand training might address. This pilot study evaluated a self-paced, case-based, mobile-optimized online training to diagnose and manage hypertension for Nigerian health workers.MethodsTwelve hypertension training modules were developed, based on World Health Organization and Nigerian guidelines. After review by local academic and government partners, the course was piloted by Nigerian health workers at government-owned primary health centers. Primary care physician, nurse, and community health worker participants completed the course on their own smartphones. Before and after the course, hypertension knowledge was evaluated with multiple-choice questions. Learners provided feedback by responding to questions on a Likert scale.ResultsOut of 748 users who sampled the course, 574 enrolled, of whom 431 (75%) completed the course. The average pre-test score of completers was 65.4%, which increased to 78.2% on the post-test (P < 0.001, paired t-test). Health workers who were not part of existing hypertension control programs had lower pre-test scores and larger score gains. Most participants (96.1%) agreed that the training was applicable to their work, and nearly all (99.8%) agreed that they enjoyed the training.ConclusionsAn on-demand mobile digital hypertension training increases knowledge of hypertension management among Nigerian health workers. If offered at scale, such courses can be a tool to build health workforce capacity through initial and refresher training on current clinical guidelines in hypertension and other chronic diseases in Nigeria as well as other countries.

Agile-Omoluabi Leadership, Technology-Transfer, Government Willingness to Change, Engagement and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Examining the Moderating-Mediating Role of Workplace Happiness in Nigeria’s Healthcare System

On the backdrop of the aggressive move by the healthcare workers in Nigeria to foreign countries to ply their expertise, the country has suffered her worst brain-drain episode leading to been labelled among the 55 countries experiencing healthcare short in Africa. This is right and it call for an array of contextual issues including; leadership, technology transfer, government willingness to change, engagement, organisation citizen behaviour and workplace happiness to tackle this rather unfortunate incidence. A validated questionnaire was employed to gather data from 408 health-care practitioners including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technologists and administrators in public-owned hospitals in Nigeria. A path analysis was used to examine the six-way direct, mediation, and moderation hypotheses. Results showed that agile-Omoluabi leadership, government willingness to change and technology transfer had positive and significant effect on engagement (Adj R2 =0.685, p=0.000, Q2 =0.484), workplace happiness stood as a positive and significant intervening variable mediating the interaction between agile-Omoluabi leadership and organisation citizen behaviour (β=0.257, t= 2.033, p= 0.043) as well as serving a moderator for the linkage between engagement and organisation citizen behaviour (β =0.300; p&lt; 0.000, Q2 =0.365). The findings of this study as practical implication for the ministry of health in Nigeria because it offers strategic information which confirms the twofold relevance of workplace happiness as critical to sustaining health-care practitioners’ engagement and guaranty exhibiting citizen behaviour. Also reinforce the need for government at all levels to show readiness to transform, plan and implement a systematic process of technology transfer and show a leadership that care about the health-care practitioners and one that is dynamic. This if done, should address the brain drain and improve the lost glory of the health-care system in Nigeria.

Targeting systems not individuals: Institutional and structural drivers of absenteeism among primary healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) can only be achieved if people receive good quality care from health workers, yet in Nigeria, as in many other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), many health workers are absent from work. Absenteeism is a well-known phenomenon but is often considered as the self-serving behaviour of individuals, independent from the characteristics of health systems structures and processes and the broader contexts that enable it. We undertook a qualitative inquiry among 40 key informants, comprising health facility heads and workers, community leaders and state-level health policymakers in Nigeria. We employed a phenomenology approach to examine their lived experiences and grouped findings into thematic clusters. Absenteeism by health workers was found to be a response to structural problems at two levels -midstream (facility-level) and upstream (government level) - rather than being a result of moral failure of individuals. The problems at midstream level pointed to an inconsistent and unfair application of rules and regulations in facilities and ineffective management, while the upstream drivers relate mainly to political interference and suboptimal health system leadership. Reducing absenteeism requires two-pronged interventions that tackle defects in the upstream and midstream rather than just focusing on sanctioning deviant staff (downstream).

Train-the-trainers intervention for national capacity building in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in Nigeria

BackgroundThe first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was reported on February 27, 2020, and over time, spread across the country leading to many healthcare worker infections. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities makes it necessary to establish infection prevention and control measures. The World Health Organisation supported the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to conduct a train-the-trainers workshop on infection prevention and control for key healthcare workers across Nigeria. Aim/ObjectivesThis study aims to describe the process and results of train-the-trainers as an intervention for national capacity building in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Nigeria. MethodsEight-hour sessions were held over three days with face-to-face instruction and practical hands-on experience in April 2020. A total of 61 healthcare workers participated across the six geographic zones of Nigeria: North Central, North East, North West, South West, South East, and South South. The training included slide presentations, case-based scenarios, and practical hands-on sessions with plenary discussions. Pre- and post-test assessments were used to evaluate knowledge of COVID-19, triage, and infection prevention and control among healthcare workers. Finding/Results69 % (42) of the participants were male 31 % (19) were female, and the majority (67 %) were medical doctors. Others attending were nurses or health administrators. Of the 70 % (26) of the states with existing infection prevention and control structures within the COVID emergency response, only 40 % were functional. The average percentage of pre-test and post-test scores were 60.8 ± 13.4 and 67.8 ± 9 0.3 respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (p > 0.001) in trainee knowledge. Additionally, 70 % of participants evaluated the training workshop as “satisfactory” or higher in training format, relevance for daily clinical work, active participation, learning new concepts, and logistics. ConclusionNationwide infection prevention and control training is feasible during a national health crisis. Infection prevention and control is cardinal in the containment of epidemic-prone diseases like COVID-19 and is invaluable in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings.

The practice of using repurposed medications as chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19 by healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved drugs to possibly prevent the disease. This study evaluated the frequency and pattern of drug use for COVID-19 prevention. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of HCW conducted in Southern Nigeria. Data was obtained from the participants using a questionnaire and blood sample was obtained for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. One hundred and sixty-six participants were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two (19.3%) of them had taken a repurposed medication as prophylaxis for COVID-19. The most used drugs were Vitamin C (9%), Azithromycin (8.4%) and Zinc (6.6%). History of contact with patient with confirmed COVID-19 and being a pharmacist were independent factors associated with the use of COVID-19 prophylaxis. Several HCW in Nigeria take drugs to possibly prevent COVID-19. These medications may not offer significant protection against COVID-19. There is an urgent need to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in HCW in Nigeria.

Blood and body fluids exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV self-testing among healthcare workers in northern Nigeria

Introduction In high-HIV burden settings, such as Nigeria, HIV self-testing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are often recommended, but not widely practiced. This study aims to identify the predictors of PEP utilization and preferences for HIV self-testing among healthcare workers in Nigeria. Methods A total of 403 healthcare workers from a tertiary hospital in Nigeria completed questionnaires. Adjusted odds ratios were derived from logistic regression models. Results Among the respondents, 141 (35.0%) reported experiencing at least one workplace exposure incident, with 72 (51.1%) of them receiving PEP. The majority of healthcare workers (n = 354, 87.8%) expressed a preference for HIV self-testing over traditional HIV testing and counseling. The occurrence of exposure incidents was predicted by the respondent’s sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-3.08, female vs. male), age (aOR = 0. 16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.92, >40 vs. <30 years), profession (aOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.18-4.66, nurse/midwife vs. physician), work unit (aOR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.23, obstetrics/gynecology vs. surgery), and previous HIV testing and counseling (aOR = 0.01; 95% Cl: 0.004-0.03, no vs. yes). Respondent’s profession, work unit, and previous HIV testing and counseling independently predicted a preference for HIV self-testing. Conclusion Further exploration of the feasibility of implementing HIV self-testing as an alternative to traditional HIV testing and counseling for workplace exposures is warranted.

The practice of using repurposed medications as chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19 by healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved drugs to possibly prevent the disease. This study evaluated the frequency and pattern of drug use for COVID-19 prevention. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of HCW conducted in Southern Nigeria. Data was obtained from the participants using a questionnaire and blood sample was obtained for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. One hundred and sixty-six participants were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two (19.3%) of them had taken a repurposed medication as prophylaxis for COVID-19. The most used drugs were Vitamin C (9%), Azithromycin (8.4%) and Zinc (6.6%). History of contact with patient with confirmed COVID-19 and being a pharmacist were independent factors associated with the use of COVID-19 prophylaxis. Several HCW in Nigeria take drugs to possibly prevent COVID-19. These medications may not offer significant protection against COVID-19. There is an urgent need to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in HCW in Nigeria.

Hepatitis B vaccination status among health workers in Nigeria: a nationwide survey between January to June 2021

BackgroundHepatitis B vaccination is the most important preventive measure against Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. Vaccination against HBV infection among healthcare workers is important because of their daily exposure to patients’ body fluids and the possible risk of transmission to other patients. Hence, this study assessed the risk of hepatitis B infection, vaccination status and associated factors among healthcare workers in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2021 using electronic data capture techniques to enroll 857 healthcare workers (HCWs) in regular contact with patients and their samples through a multi-stage sampling method.ResultsThe participants’ mean (SD) age was 38.7 (8.0) years, and 453 (52.9%) were female. Each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria had a fair representation, with a range of 15.3 to 17.7% of the study population. The majority (83.8%) of healthcare workers in Nigeria knew that they were at an increased risk of being infected by their work. Also, 72.2% knew that if infected, there was a high risk of liver cancer in later life. Many participants (642 [74.9%]) responded that they consistently applied standard precautions, such as hand washing, gloves, and face masks while attending to patients. Three hundred and sixty (42.0%) participants were fully vaccinated. Of the 857 respondents, 248 (28.9%) did not receive any dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Factors that were associated with not being vaccinated included age less than 25 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.796, 95% CI 1.119 to 20.547, p = 0.035], being a nurse (AOR 2.346, 95% CI 1.446 to 3.808, p = 0.010), being a health attendant (AOR 9.225, 95% CI 4.532 to 18.778, p = 0.010), and being a healthcare worker from the Southeast (AOR 2.152, 95% CI 1.186 to 3.904, p = 0.012) in Nigeria.ConclusionThis study showed a high level of awareness of the risks associated with hepatitis B infection and suboptimal uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers in Nigeria.

COVID-19 related traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

COVID-19 related traumatic stress symptoms and associated factors among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories, Level of Trust in Government Information, and Willingness to Take COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Survey Study.

The World Health Organization recently declared vaccine hesitancy or refusal as a threat to global health. COVID-19 vaccines have been proven efficacious and are central to combatting the pandemic. However, many-including skilled health care workers (HCWs)-have been hesitant in taking the vaccines. Conspiracy theories spread on social media may play a central role in fueling vaccine hesitancy. The objective of this study was to investigate HCWs' belief in COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories (ie, that the vaccines can alter one's DNA or genetic information and that the vaccines contain microchips) and trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines. Health care workers in Ondo State, Nigeria, representing different health care professions were asked to participate anonymously in an online survey. The participants were asked about their beliefs in 2 viral conspiracy theories and their trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines. We used multivariable logistic regressions to investigate the relationships between trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines and (1) belief in DNA alteration, (2) belief in microchip implantation through the vaccine, and (3) willingness to accept the vaccine. A total of 557 HCWs (n=156, 28% men and n=395, 70.9% women) were included in the study. A total of 26.4% (n=147) of the sampled HCWs believed COVID-19 vaccines contained digital microchips, while 30% (n=167) believed the vaccines could alter one's DNA or genetic information. The beliefs varied according to professional group, with 45.8% (55/120) and 50% (5/10) of nurses and pharmacists, respectively, believing in the DNA alteration theory and 33.3% (40/120) and 37.5% (6/16) of the nurses and laboratory scientists, respectively, believing in the microchip theory. Social media was an important source of COVID-19 information for 45.4% (253/557) of HCWs. A total of 76.2% (419/550) of the participants expressed a willingness to take the vaccine. The odds of HCWs believing that COVID-19 vaccines contained digital microchips increased significantly with decreasing level of trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% CI 2.6-8.0). We made a similar finding in those who believed COVID-19 vaccines could alter DNA and genetic information (OR 5.2, 95% CI 3.1-8.8). Misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines reaches and influences HCWs. A high proportion of the sampled HCWs believed that COVID-19 vaccines contained microchips or that the vaccines could alter recipients' DNA and genetic information. This might have negative consequences in terms of the HCWs' own COVID-19 vaccination and their influence on other people. Lack of trust in government and its institutions might explain the belief in both conspiracy theories and vaccine hesitancy. There is a need for health care stakeholders in Nigeria and around the world to actively counteract misinformation, especially on social media, and give HCWs necessary scientifically sound information.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Nigeria: A systematic review protocol

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant change in society. Healthcare workers are at risk of contracting the novel virus while at work as it becomes a hospital-acquired infection, starting from the first wave of the pandemic. Healthcare workers can acquire and transmit the virus from the medical workplace to their households. Hence they must receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, some healthcare workers have refused to get inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine, exhibiting vaccine hesitancy. There are several reasons healthcare workers knowledgeable about vaccines refuse to receive them—this protocol is for a systematic review of hesitation towards the COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Nigeria.&#x0D; Aim and Objectives: To investigate vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Nigeria.&#x0D; Methods and Analysis: This protocol followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA-P) 2015 guideline and is registered with PROSPERO. The registration number is CRD42022365489. We will conduct an electronic search for pertinent papers in several databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Library, Scopus, web of Science Citation Index, and African Index Medicus. The search period will be between March 7, 2021 to March 27, 2023, for published articles on healthcare professionals' hesitation to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.&#x0D; Three independent reviewers will select the articles based on strict eligibility criteria, and a fourth reviewer will address any disagreement.&#x0D; We will use the New Castle Ottawa scale to assess the risk of bias in the included studies and perform quantitative and qualitative synthesis. The former is for sufficiently similar studies, using Review Manager Version 5.3. While the latter will be conducted where variabilities exist among the studies.&#x0D; Conclusion: Even though healthcare workers have more knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccine compared to the members of the public, some of them exhibit hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

Assessment of the Quality of Life of Healthcare Workers in Nigeria during COVID- 19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 pandemic caused increased pressure at work, coupled with a lack of appropriate infection prevention and treatment guidelines, and led increased work burdens, increased burnout, psychological symptoms, and post-traumatic stress. The quality of life of healthcare workers during the pandemic can therefore have a profound negative impact on the healthcare needs of the general population. Aims/objectives: This study was designed to explore the mental health status among HCWs in Nigeria during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic and identify the determining factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out using a semi-structured online questionnaire. SurveyMonkey was used as the survey platform. The questionnaire used was distributed through email and WhatsApp. The study participants were HCWs in Nigeria and were recruited using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Results: Responses gotten from one hundred and fifty-four (154) participants were included in this study which was made up of 84(54.5%) females and 70(45.5%) male participants. The mean age of respondents was 38.8±8.1 years. More than half of the respondents were doctors (50.6%, n=78), followed by Nurses (33.1%, n=51). The mean composite SOS-10 score was 51.6±7.63. Majority of study participants recorded good composite score (94.2%, n=145) with only one participant having a poor score (0.6%). The median composite SOS-10 score of respondents was 52 (of a maximum of 60), with an interquartile range of 49-47. There was no correlation between the respondent’s age, sex, religion, marital status, professional status, medical history, medical insurance, and the number of years and SOS-10 scores (rs = 1.00, p &gt;0.05). However, there is a correlation between the respondents’ general health rating and SOS-10 scores (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study found that the QoL of healthcare workers in Nigeria was not af­fected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the first wave of the pandemic

Nigeria healthcare worker SARS-CoV-2 serology study: Results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort.

Healthcare workers, both globally and in Nigeria, have an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with the general population due to higher risk contacts, including occupational exposures. In addition, primary healthcare workers represent an important group for estimating prior infection to SARS-CoV-2 because they work at the first point-of-contact for most patients yet have not been included in prior COVID-19 seroepidemiology research in Nigeria. We sought to evaluate baseline seroprevalence, rates of seroconversion (IgG- to IgG+) and seroreversion (IgG+ to IgG-), change in IgG concentration at 3- and 6-month follow-up, and factors associated with seropositivity. From June 2020 to December 2020, we conducted a longitudinal seroepidemiology study among frontline health care workers in Nigeria using a validated dried blood spot assay. Among 525 participants, mean (SD) age was 39.1 (9.7) years, 61.0% were female, and 45.1% were community health workers. The six-month follow-up rate was 93.5%. Seropositivity rates increased from 31% (95% CI: 27%, 35%) at baseline to 45% (95% CI: 40%, 49%) at 3-month follow-up, and 70% (95% CI: 66%, 74%) at 6-month follow-up. There was a corresponding increase in IgG levels from baseline (median = 0.18 ug/mL) to 3-month (median = 0.35 ug/mL) and 6-month follow-up (median = 0.59 ug/mL, Ptrend < .0001). A minority of participants reported symptoms from February 2020 until baseline (12.2%) or during 3-month (6.6%) or 6-month (7.5%) follow-up. only 1 participant was hospitalized. This study demonstrated high baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-up prevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria among a cohort of unvaccinated frontline healthcare workers, including primary healthcare workers despite low symptomatology. These results may have implications in state- and national-level disease pandemic modeling. Trial registration: NCT04158154.

Stakeholder perspectives on Nigeria's national sodium reduction program: Lessons for implementation and scale-up.

To reduce excess dietary sodium consumption, Nigeria's 2019 National Multi-sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases includes policies based on the World Health Organization SHAKE package. Priority actions and strategies include mandatory sodium limits in processed foods, advertising restrictions, mass-media campaigns, school-based interventions, and improved front-of-package labeling. We conducted a formative qualitative evaluation of stakeholders' knowledge, and potential barriers as well as effective strategies to implement these NMSAP priority actions. From January 2021 to February 2021, key informant interviews (n = 23) and focus group discussions (n = 5) were conducted with regulators, food producers, consumers, food retailers and restaurant managers, academia, and healthcare workers in Nigeria. Building on RE-AIM and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we conducted directed content qualitative analysis to identify anticipated implementation outcomes, barriers, and facilitators to implementation of the NMSAP sodium reduction priority actions. Most stakeholders reported high appropriateness of the NMSAP because excess dietary sodium consumption is common in Nigeria and associated with high hypertension prevalence. Participants identified multiple barriers to adoption and acceptability of implementing the priority actions (e.g., poor population knowledge on the impact of excess salt intake on health, potential profit loss, resistance to change in taste) as well as facilitators to implementation (e.g., learning from favorable existing smoking reduction and advertising strategies). Key strategies to strengthen NMSAP implementation included consumer education, mandatory and improved front-of-package labeling, legislative initiatives to establish maximum sodium content limits in foods and ingredients, strengthening regulation and enforcement of food advertising restrictions, and integrating nutrition education into school curriculum. We found that implementation and scale-up of the Nigeria NMSAP priority actions are feasible and will require several implementation strategies ranging from community-focused education to strengthening current and planned regulation and enforcement, and improvement of front-of-package labeling quality, consistency, and use.

Demographic and Organisational Factors as Predictors of Retention Among Health Care Workers in South West Nigeria

Retention of healthcare workers in Nigerian healthcare facilities is a crucial issue in Nigeria, which has a deficiency of qualified medical personnel. In recent times, unlike ever witnessed before, the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in Nigeria are seriously threatened by low healthcare worker retention. The cause of low retention among healthcare workers in Nigeria is unknown, hence, a need to investigate the predictive influence of demographic and organizational factors on employee resilience among healthcare workers in Nigeria. A total of 798 healthcare workers (92 medical doctors, 401 nurses, 92 radiologists, 75 pharmacists, 134 MBBS, and Equivalent while 4 technicians) were purposively selected for the study. Outcomes revealed that gender (β = .26, t= 8.55, p&lt;.05), age (β = .22, t= 4.24, p&lt;.05), state of origin (β = .06, t= 2.09, p&lt;.05), marital status (β = .23, t= 7.17, p&lt;.05) and education (β =-.38, t= -11.24 p&lt;.05), job satisfaction (β = -.18, t= -2.95, p&lt;.05) and perceived organizational support (β = .22, t= 2.99 p&lt;.05) significantly predicted retention among healthcare workers. It was concluded that being female and unmarried, having negative/low job satisfaction, and perceiving positive/high organizational support predicted employee retention.

Personality Traits as Key Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant global challenge, necessitating the development and administration of vaccines to halt its spread. Nevertheless, there is limited information on the predictors, patterns, and personality variables influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Nigerian health-care workers (HCWs). Aim: The study set to assess level of factors including personality factors that influence acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among.HCWs in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: From August 9 to October 11, 2021, a web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted on 300 HCWs in Nigeria, aged 19 and above, with social media access and English language proficiency. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data on the SPSS version 20. Results: The findings revealed that while 64% of those who participated in the study received the first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 48.3% returned for the second dose. The impression of heightened susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 was the primary reason for vaccination uptake. Although education level was associated with vaccination uptake, it did not predict it independently. The age distribution, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and high vulnerability as a rationale for receiving a vaccine were all the independent predictors of vaccine uptake. Conclusion: This study reveals that despite their role as vaccination advocates, HCWs can exhibit hesitancy toward novel vaccines. To increase vaccine uptake among HCWs and the general population, it is crucial to recognise the factors that influence vaccine acceptance among them, including individual personality variables, and incorporate this understanding into vaccination promotion programs.

Preventing and Mitigating Inter-Professional Conflict Among Healthcare Professionals in Nigeria.

The primary obligation of healthcare professionals is the well-being of patients. Inter-professional conflict can prevent the achievement of this goal, thereby potentially putting patients in peril. This study aimed at articulating contextual strategies to mitigate and prevent inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria. A cross sectional study was undertaken in various health facilities in Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to healthcare professionals. Completed questionnaires were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were undertaken. A total of 2207 valid responses were included for analysis. Findings revealed that almost all the respondents (92.9%) indicated that the Ministry of Health has a key role in resolving conflict in the healthcare sector. Close to three quarters (70.4%) of the study participants disagreed that leadership of hospitals and health agencies be limited to a particular profession. Almost all the participants (90.15%) indicated that cognate administrative expertise and experience are critical for leadership. A strong majority of the sample (93.5%) opined that reforms are required in the leadership selection process of hospital and other healthcare agencies. Due to the criticality of this issue to patients' access to healthcare, findings from this study can underpin a proactive evidence based strategy that can comprehensively address inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Perceived Stress, Sexual and Marital Satisfaction among Married Healthcare Workers in Nigeria

Background: Marital and sexual satisfaction are essential for conjugal bliss and harmony. However, stress in the workplace can influence sexual and marital satisfaction of couples. There is dearth of information about level of sexual and marital satisfaction among healthcare workers in Nigeria, as well as the connections between stress, sexual and marital satisfaction among healthcare workers.  Purpose: This study assessed inter-relationship between perceived stress, sexual and marital satisfaction among married healthcare workers.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study adopted a quantitative approach among 150 consented healthcare workers recruited using a simple random sampling technique. Instruments for data collection included the Perceived Stress Scale, Enrich Marital Satisfaction questionnaire and Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory. The Pearson correlation was used to ascertain relationships and linear regression was done to predict influence of one variable on the other.Results: Perceived level of stress of the healthcare workers was low [16.9(0.001)] and mean sexual satisfaction (SS) was poor [78.93(23.68)]. Also, 49.3% were found to be the dissatisfied maritally. Perceived stress showed a positive correlation with marital satisfaction (MS) (r=0.48, p&lt;0.01). However, stress negatively correlated with participants’ SS with partners (r=-0.51, p&lt;0.01). Similarly, general SS positively correlated with MS (r=0.32, p&lt;0.01). Predictors of MS included perceived stress (β=0.614, p=0.01), age differences with spouse (β=0.30, p=0.01), number of children (β=-0.24, p=0.01), and family type (β=-0.21, p=0.05).Conclusion: Only half of the participants in this study are maritally satisfied. Marital satisfaction increases with sexual satisfaction. Stress is correlated with reduced sexual satisfaction of the participant, and as number of children increases, marital satisfaction reduces. Couples should be encouraged to give birth to moderate number of children to improve marital satisfaction.

Developing an mHealth Intervention to Reduce COVID-19-Associated Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Protocol for a Design and Feasibility Study.

Globally, COVID-19-related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers' mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Our objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers' experience of COVID-19-related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. This study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. This is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. DERR1-10.2196/36174.

Assessment of diagnostic accuracy and adherence to maternal and child health guidelines as a measure of clinical competence of frontline healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Clinical competence of primary healthcare (PHC) workers is important in the delivery of maternal and child health care and services. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy and adherence to clinical guidelines for the management of some clinical conditions such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, neonatal asphyxia and postpartum hemorrhage, as a proxy to measure the clinical competence of frontline health workers in PHCs in selected states in Nigeria. Ninety PHC facilities were randomly selected in each State and the FCT. Of the 3330 health workers, only 36.0% were able to correctly diagnose the five selected medical conditions. There was a significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy of the health workers with the doctors having highest diagnostic accuracy (65.5%) compared to other health workers (p <0.001). Adherence to the management guidelines was generally poor across all cadres of health workers and this pattern appear similar across the geopolitical regions in the country. The highest adherence to guidelines was observed among medical doctors (38.2%). The diagnostic accuracy and adherence to national guidelines for managing patients was poor among health workers, particularly, among other cadres except doctors. PHC workers in Nigeria need continuous training to enhance their clinical competence to improve quality of maternal and child health care.