ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Health care services and programs directed towards combating the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have been disrupted because of the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The African continent because of its staggering health care system and poor economy disproportionately bears the burden of these diseases. While successes have been recorded in controlling and eliminating the NTDs, policymakers in Africa should consider the potential of the COVID-19 to dwindle these successes an issue of high priority. This commentary seeks to discuss the current status of NTDs in Africa and proffer recommendations to help combat these diseases at this period. It is worthy to say that similar dedication directed towards fighting the COVID-19 should also be deployed into eliminating other diseases like the NTDs which often, are neglected.
ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/psychology , Delivery of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Pandemics/prevention & control , Adult , Anxiety , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Fear , Female , Health Personnel , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nigeria , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
While the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across nations in significant terms midwives who play a crucial role in offering maternal and childcare 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.