Using Abdominal Massage to Reduce Gastric Residual Volume Among Critically Ill Patients by Nurses in a Tertiary Health Institution in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State

One of the major problems of hospitalized critically ill patients is nutrition. Meeting the daily nutritional requirements to prevent malnutrition and problem related to it. Early enteral feeding is recommended as first line of nutrition therapy for critically ill patients, although enteral feeding is often complicated with intolerance and aspiration as a result of high gastric residual volume. Abdominal massage is a technique used in improving digestive function. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of abdominal massage as a means of reducing gastric residual volume (GRV) in critically ill patients among nurses and doctors. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional and non-experimental study. This study sample comprised 73 nurses in the units where critically ill patients are kept such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), and Neuro-Surgery department of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos. Questionnaire was the instrument used to elicit responses from the respondents. The study was carried out within the ambit of the range of ethics considerations. Convenience sampling technique was adopted in gaining access to the participants. Findings from this study reveal the importance of the use of abdominal massage, and the non-practice of the method in addressing abdominal problems, even though, awareness of it was high. Reasons attributable to use of other means such as aspiration of excess GRV with NG tube were provided. There was poor knowledge of the signs of high GRV that would necessitate abdominal massage. Keywords: Abdominal massage, critically ill patients, nurses, gastric residual volume, DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-14-03 Publication date:July 31st 2020

Labour and Delivery Practices in Selected Primary Health Centres in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State

Every labour and child delivery activity comes with a collateral vicissitude hence the need to be accurate in its handling toward producing positive outcome. This concern has immensely drawn the attention of the global stakeholders which found its expression in Sustainable Goal Development three (Target 1) aimed at reducing the maternal mortality globally. This study was necessitated by the fact that the level of maternal mortality in Nigeria is unacceptable which invariably makes a lot of practitioners and researchers uncomfortable hence the need to further make an inquiry into how delivery and labour activities are conducted. Evidence abounds that the maternal mortality rate in Jos follows the pattern of that of the nation as a whole. The study was carried out in the selected primary health centres within the two main local government areas that constitute Jos metropolis. The setting of the study was picked as it functions as the operational level of primary health care. The level of care sophistication is relatively low in this setting. The study adopted a descriptive, cross sectional and non-experimental research design. The study population comprised nurses and community health workers working in those primary health centres. Multisampling technique was used in selecting the health centres used in the study. The sample size was one hundred and thirty-five. Convenience sampling technique was adopted in accessing the respondents. A total of one hundred and thirty-three inclined thereby creating a response rate of 98.5%. The ethical injunctions guiding research were observed as the respondents’ informed consent was sought. Assurance was given in the aspects of confidentiality and anonymity. The right to withdraw clause was also emphasized. Data was analyzed using percentages and frequency counts. Results reveal the techniques embedded in labour and delivery as these include assessment of patient’s psychological readiness and foetal readiness for continuous maternal support; and use of partograph. Further, results indicate lack of adequately trained health workers, lack of cordial relationships between mothers and health personnel, inadequate facilities, and financial strain as the factors that affect labour and delivery practices in primary health centres in Jos Metropolis. The import of the findings is that efforts should be strengthened toward upgrading the skills of the health workers, and making adequate provision for needed resources. Keywords: Labour, Delivery, Practices, Primary Health Centres DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/102-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

Adolescents' perception of career choice of nursing among selected secondary schools in Jos, Nigeria

The main purpose of this study was to examine the adolescents' perception and choice of nursing as a career in senior secondary schools, and to determine factors that may influence their choice and perception. The study was conducted in four selected schools in Jos metropolis. Each of these schools is unique in features. They include: two government secondary schools (urban and rural) and two private secondary schools (urban and rural). A total of 240 respondents were used for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed and presented in frequency tables, percentages, bar chart and chi-square. Findings indicate that 7.5% (n=18) of respondents chose nursing as a career, out of which 83.33% (n=15) were females, while 16.67% (n=3) were males. Interestingly, out of 46.25% of total respondents who would consider nursing as a career, 56.76% were females while 43.26% were males. There is no significant relationship between gender in considering nursing as a career choice; the ownership type of schools, and consideration of nursing as a career choice shows no significance (t=-2.098, critical value=1.658, df=118, p value=0.05.). There is equally no significant relationship between location, and consideration of nursing as a career choice