Awareness of Nigerian Mothers on the Risk Factors, Prevention and Management of Seizures in Newborns

Objectives The study aimed to assess the awareness of mothers on the risk factors, prevention, and management of seizures in newborns. Materials & Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 359 mothers using simple random sampling. The data were collected using questionnaires that included general awareness, awareness of the causes, risk factors, prevention, and management. The data collected were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Null hypotheses were tested using chi-square at 0.05 level of significance Results Two hundred seventy-four mothers (76.3%) had high awareness of seizures in newborns, thirty-four (9.5%) had average awareness, and fifty-one (14.2%) had low awareness. Two hundred and seventythree mothers (76%) had high awareness of the risk factors, and eighty-six (24%) had low awareness, meaning that although some respondents had misconceptions, awareness of the risk factors and causes was good. Two hundred twenty-three (62.1%) respondents had high awareness of preventing seizures in newborns, while 136 (37.9%) had low awareness. The awareness of respondents on managing seizures in newborns is positive, as 291 (81.1%) had high awareness of managing seizures in newborns, while sixty-eight (18.9%) had low awareness. There was a significant relationship between age (p =0.000), marital status (p=0.018), level of education (p =0.000), and awareness of risk factors of seizures in the newborn Conclusion A high awareness of neonatal seizures was found among mothers because of their high educational level, although some still had some misconceptions. Improving maternal neonatal seizure awareness and appropriate educational interventions to correct misconceptions are needed

Covid-19 researcher stories: adapting under adversity in Nigeria

Lockdown has presented researchers across the world with a mix of opportunities- in the form of time and new forms of connection as well as challenges: working from home, the disruption to business as usual and health and economic concerns. In this post, we hear from four researchers in Nigeria on how they creatively responded to the changing conditions and how they navigated problems including misinformation, too much time and data charges arising from the online pivot

Perceived impact of coronavirus pandemic on uptake of healthcare services in South West Nigeria

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic since its emergence has posed a great danger to the health of the general populace while impacting the Nigerian healthcare delivery significantly. Since its emergence, the health system has been stretched with overwhelming responsibilities. The study assessed health providers´ perceived impact of coronavirus pandemic on the uptake of health care services in South West Nigeria. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional design using an online structured survey was used to elicit responses from 385 Nigerian health workers selected by convenience sampling technique. Data analysis was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Comparison of the uptake of healthcare before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: findings revealed a significant difference between the uptake of health care prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2= 92.77, p=0.000) as 253 respondents (65.7%) reported that the hospital recorded a low turn-out of patients during the pandemic and 184 (47.8%) indicated that some of the facility units/departments were temporarily closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, there was a significant difference between health-related conditions requiring hospital admission before and during COVID-19 pandemic (χ2=3.334 p=0.046). Factors influencing uptake of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic are: fear of nosocomial infection, fear of stigmatization, and misconception/misinformation on COVID-19 diseases and care. Conclusion: the Nigerian health system in the past months has been remarkably impacted by the pandemic. This calls for immediate restructuring to maintain an equitable distribution of care, while minimizing risk to patients and health providers

eHealth literacy was associated with anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundElectronic health (eHealth) literacy may play an important role in individuals’ engagement with online mental health-related information.AimTo examine associations between eHealth literacy and psychological outcomes among Nigerians during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study among Nigerians conducted using the ‘COVID-19’s impAct on feaR and hEalth (CARE) questionnaire. The exposure: eHealth literacy, was assessed using the eHealth literacy scale, and psychological outcomes were assessed using the PHQ-4 scale, which measured anxiety and depression; and the fear scale to measure fear of COVID-19. We fitted logistic regression models to assess the association of eHealth literacy with anxiety, depression, and fear, adjusting for covariates. We included interaction terms to assess for age, gender, and regional differences. We also assessed participants’ endorsement of strategies for future pandemic preparedness.ResultsThis study involved 590 participants, of which 56% were female, and 38% were 30 years or older. About 83% reported high eHealth literacy, and 55% reported anxiety or depression. High eHealth literacy was associated with a 66% lower likelihood of anxiety (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 0·34; 95% confidence interval, 0·20–0·54) and depression (aOR: 0·34; 95% CI, 0·21–0·56). There were age, gender, and regional differences in the associations between eHealth literacy and psychological outcomes. eHealth-related strategies such as medicine delivery, receiving health information through text messaging, and online courses were highlighted as important for future pandemic preparedness.ConclusionConsidering that mental health and psychological care services are severely lacking in Nigeria, digital health information sources present an opportunity to improve access and delivery of mental health services. The different associations of e-health literacy with psychological well-being between age, gender, and geographic region highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. Policymakers must prioritize digitally backed interventions, such as medicine delivery and health information dissemination through text messaging, to address these disparities and promote equitable mental well-being

Compliance with Standard Precautions among Midwives during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: While the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across nations in significant terms, midwives who play a crucial role in offering maternal and child care amid the pandemic stand a high risk of being infected. Examining their level of compliance with the standard precautions amid the pandemic is important. Purpose: To assess the level of compliance of midwives in Indonesia with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage and hand washing. Methods: In June 2020, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1520 midwives in Indonesia during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Association between demographic variables and compliance with standard precautions was measured using Chi-square test.  Results: Approximately 74% of midwives used PPE and masks when outside while more than 40% of them did not always wash their hands after they touch an object outside home. A significant association was found between level of education (p =.001), region (p =.000) and mask usage. However, association between ethnicity and mask usage; region and handwashing were not significant.    Conclusion: Majority of the midwives in Indonesia complied with PPE usage, but majority did not adhere to hand washing. This highlights the need for appropriate interventions to improve compliance to standard precautions in a bid to curtail further spread of the pandemic

Behavioural risk-factors associated with the use of Facemask during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period in Nigeria: online-based survey

Background:  The Coronavirus disease has rapidly become a public health challenge, with many countries adopting the usage of facemasks as one of the protective strategies against the virus. This study aimed to assess the behavioral risk factors associated with the use of facemasks during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period in Nigeria.  Methods:  The study recruited 500 participants in an online-based survey through a cloud-based platform called Google Forms. The main scales; facemask usage and behavioral risk factors were measured on a 0-27 and 0-24 point rating scale respectively, while the subscales are utilization, prevention, and perceived threats were measured on a 0-16, 0-19, and 0-5 point rating scale. Result: The usage of facemasks accounts for 32.8% (daily), 12.2% (weekly), 38.2% (monthly basis), and 16.8% use facemasks out of necessity. More than half (55.6%) use facemasks because of fear of punishment by the task force while challenges associated with the usage of facemasks include: difficulty breathing (47%) and suffocation (24%). A significant association was found between the use of facemasks and the prevention of COVID-19 (b= 0.029, 95% CI =0.055 - 0.114, p-value 0.049, r2=11.1%).  Conclusion:  The use of facemasks has become a norm and passed into law in Nigeria, however not a pleasant practice for most people Recommendation:  Therefore there is a need for mass awareness and education to improve the use of facemasks in Nigeria

Satisfaction and perceived impact of virtual learning during COVID-19 lockdown: A case study of an online nursing research conference

Aim This study aimed to assess nurses' satisfaction and perceptions of the impact of virtual learning. Design A descriptive cross-sectional survey. Method 236 nurses attending an online conference from several parts of Nigeria participated in the study. Analysed data were summarized and presented in tables and graphs, while linear regression was used to measure the associations. Results Most of the respondents perceived the programme as highly impactful. All three domains: learner-content interaction (p?=?0.020), learner?instructor interaction (p?=?0.000) and learner?learner interaction (p?=?0.000), were found to be statistically significantly associated with the perceived impact of the programme, and thus statistically significant predictors of the effects of online learning (p?=?0.02), (F?=?5.471). Conclusively, the Interaction of learners with learning content, lecturers and other learners was seen as determinants of an effective and impactful online education. It is recommended that nursing training institutions embrace online learning either as the leading platform or as an adjunct to a face-to-face method

Global impacts of Covid-19 on lifestyles and health and preparation preferences: an international survey of 30 countries

Background: The health area being greatest impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and residents' perspective to better prepare for future pandemic remain unknown. We aimed to assess and make cross-country and cross-region comparisons of the global impacts of COVID-19 and preparation preferences of pandemic. Methods: We recruited adults in 30 countries covering all World Health Organization (WHO) regions from July 2020 to August 2021. 5 Likert-point scales were used to measure their perceived change in 32 aspects due to COVID-19 (-2 = substantially reduced to 2 = substantially increased) and perceived importance of 13 preparations (1 = not important to 5 = extremely important). Samples were stratified by age and gender in the corresponding countries. Multidimensional preference analysis displays disparities between 30 countries, WHO regions, economic development levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. Results: 16 512 adults participated, with 10 351 females. Among 32 aspects of impact, the most affected were having a meal at home (mean (m) = 0.84, standard error (SE) = 0.01), cooking at home (m = 0.78, SE = 0.01), social activities (m = -0.68, SE = 0.01), duration of screen time (m = 0.67, SE = 0.01), and duration of sitting (m = 0.59, SE = 0.01). Alcohol (m = -0.36, SE = 0.01) and tobacco (m = -0.38, SE = 0.01) consumption declined moderately. Among 13 preparations, respondents rated medicine delivery (m = 3.50, SE = 0.01), getting prescribed medicine in a hospital visit / follow-up in a community pharmacy (m = 3.37, SE = 0.01), and online shopping (m = 3.33, SE = 0.02) as the most important. The multidimensional preference analysis showed the European Region, Region of the Americas, Western Pacific Region and countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity were more adversely impacted on sitting and screen time duration and social activities, whereas other regions and countries experienced more cooking and eating at home. Countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity reported higher perceived mental burden and emotional distress. Except for low- and lower-middle-income countries, medicine delivery was always prioritised. Conclusions: Global increasing sitting and screen time and limiting social activities deserve as much attention as mental health. Besides, the pandemic has ushered in a notable enhancement in lifestyle of home cooking and eating, while simultaneously reducing the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. A health care system and technological infrastructure that facilitate medicine delivery, medicine prescription, and online shopping are priorities for coping with future pandemics

Midwives’ Risk Perception of and Preventive Behavioural Responses to COVID-19

As the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is highly contagious, application of preventive practices, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and hand-washing, are crucial to prevent its spread. Evidence suggests that preventive behavioural responses to COVID-19 might be affected by risk perception. The present study aimed to assess risk perception and preventive behavioural responses among midwives and the association between them. In September 2020, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Indonesia among 421 midwives. Spearman’s correlation coefficient or Spearman’s rho (ρ) was used to identify the factors associated with risk perception and preventive behavioural responses as well as the correlation between risk perception and preventive practices. Generally, the midwives had a high-risk perception of COVID-19 infection. However, approximately 27 of the midwives did not always use PPE, and around 56 did not often wash their hands. Midwives who worked at health facilities had a higher level of risk perception of COVID-19 infection as well as adherence to preventive practices than those who worked at universities. A significant association was found between perception of risk severity and preventive practices (p 0.05). The healthier the midwives, the higher their level of adherence to PPE and hand-washing. Older midwives tended to use PPE at any time, while those who had a chronic disease were more likely to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds more frequently. Although the midwives had a high-risk perception of the COVID-19, it is necessary to improve their preventive practices, particularly hand hygiene. © Unisa Press 2022

Support in the Battle against COVID-19: A National Qualitative Study among Midwives in Indonesia

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2019 was met with various responses globally in an effort to reduce its spread. Despite these efforts, however, low- and middle-income countries like Indonesia are still being confronted with challenges, especially the healthcare providers who are frontline workers in the struggle. The current study aimed to explore the support expected by and provided to Indonesian midwives and pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method used was a descriptive-interpretative qualitative research design. The data was collected through conducting in-depth interviews with 24 midwives who were purposively sampled and evenly recruited across all regions and all areas of midwifery practice in Indonesia. The recorded interviews were coded and themes were identified, after which a thematic analysis was done. Two main themes emerged and nine sub-themes were identified from the main themes. The study findings offered new insights into the individual and collective experiences of midwives from various regions in Indonesia. They had to adjust by leveraging the internet and mobile telephones in order to continue delivering standard care to pregnant women amid the pandemic. In addition, the midwives saw the need to provide food and financial support to pregnant women. However, despite the end of the pandemic being in sight in September 2022, there is a need to continue to support midwives and pregnant women in the disruption caused by the pandemic. Government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should plan interventions targeted at providing specific support to midwives and pregnant women. © Unisa Press 2022