ABSTRACT
Background: The recent COVID 19 pandemic has negatively affected health care systems in developed and developing countries. The weak health systems in Nigeria with low Human Resource for Health (HRH) posesa threat to mitigating this pandemic with the rising number of COVID 19 cases in the country. It is therefore necessary to consider measures to improve on the availability of human resources in the health sector.Methodology: The study was a cross sectional study which studied 475 medical students from four medical colleges across the North Eastern region. The close group whats-app platform for selected schools and classes were used to obtain information on the knowledge, perception and willingness to assist in providing health care services during this pandemic.Results: Majority of the respondents had good knowledge and perception on COVID 19 (80.4% and 96% respectively). In addition, 78.3% of the respondents felt that they were at risk of becoming infected, however 93% of them stated that they were willing to assist in providing health care services during this pandemic. Parental disapproval and fear of becoming infected were the reasons given for those who were unwilling to be involved in provision of health care during this period. More male respondents (67.3%) were willing to participate in providing health care service during the pandemic compared to 32.7% of females and this was statistically significant with a p-value of <0.001.Conclusion: This study has shown that majority of medical students in the North East have a good knowledge and perception on COVID 19 and are willing to assist in providing health services if needed during the COVID 19 Pandemic. These services could be specific low risk tasks and responsibilities which lie predominantly with prevention of COVID 19 in the region. Their willingness should be regarded as a great sacrifice to humanity and could go a long way in bridging the gap of low HRH in this region.
ABSTRACT
@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> This study aimed to assess the health workforce's service capacities within a health Service Delivery Network (SDN) of an urban poor and a rural poor setting.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>METHODS:</b> This is a concurrent mixed-methods study implemented in Navotas and Masbate, an urban poor and a rural poor area, respectively. Health needs of the residents were assessed through records review, qualitative methods and a household survey. Health facilities in the identified SDN were assessed using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool. Training data of Human Resource for Health (HRH) were also obtained.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>RESULTS:</b> SDN in the two areas are different in terms of formality where memoranda of agreement were prepared between Masbate facilities but not in Navotas. Health worker to population ratios were 12.1 per 10,000 in Navotas and 2.7 in Masbate, respectively. The primary care facilities in the two sites met the recommended level of trainings for health workers in obstetric care, immunization, childhood nutrition and tuberculosis. There was a lack of post-graduate training in non-communicable diseases in all facilities. Poverty and geography were significant factors affecting health service delivery.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> In terms of human resources, both sites have limited number of health workers and the ratios fall far below WHO guideline. Recommendations include: Primary health care staff complement should be increased in the two SDNs. HHRDB should conduct a study to settle the issue of continuing medical education requirements that are not congruent with WHO recommendations. The SDNs should include the access of medicines and commodities by poor patients in private facilities during times of stock outs. Also, during stock outs or unavailability of government health personnel, transportation should be made available via the SDN to transport poor patients to private or nongovernment facilities with the needed personnel. The DOH and HHRDB should investigate innovative strategies for telehealth services that do not require continuous electricity, nor telephone or cellphone signal.</p>