Barriers and solutions to effective mentorship in health research and training institutions in Nigeria: Mentors, mentees, and organizational perspectives.

Aims and Background: Mentoring relationships and programs have become a subject of global interest and their relevance is high in the ever-evolving health system. In Nigeria, informal system of mentoring is largely practiced. To be able to institutionalize mentoring program, there is need to explore the various challenges of mentoring process and suggest potential approaches for effective mentor-mentee relationship in health research institutions in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: The study was designed to explore the barriers and solutions to mentoring process from the perspectives of the mentor, mentee, and organization in health research and training institutions in Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed and the study was conducted among 21 health researchers drawn from 24 health research institutions across the 6 regions of Nigeria. The nominal group technique was adopted in the data collection process. Results: The most frequently reported mentor challenges were "lack of understanding of mentorship process" (84.2%) and "lack of capacity for mentoring" (78.9%), while those of mentee were "mentor preference" (73.7%) and "lack of freedom of expression" (47.4%). "Culture of selfishness/individualism" (84.2%) and "lack of formal relationship" (63.2%) were the most mentioned systemic challenges. Training on mentoring process and relationship was mentioned as the most frequent approach to overcoming challenges for the three perspectives. Conclusion: Significant mentorship challenges exist in the Nigerian health, academic and research institution. Systematic approaches to finding and implementing the appropriate solutions are needed to circumvent these bottlenecks.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Civil Society Organisations for Immunisation in a Nigerian Rural Community.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Immunisation coverage remains sub-optimal, especially in rural hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria. Nigeria's immunisation program suffered set-backs in recent years due to socio-cultural, religious and health system barriers. Grassroots Civil Society Organisations could play a role in addressing some of these barriers with resultant increase in demand for and uptake of immunisation services. The objective of this study was to carry out strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of grassroots civil society organisations regarding engagement for increasing demand for and uptake of immunisation services. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study. A pre-tested SWOT analysis template was used to collect data from 26 grassroots CSOs in Odukpani local government area (LGA) of Cross River State of Nigeria. The data were manually entered into a matrix made up of four quadrants. The results were presented as tables of frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: The CSOs have the numerical strength to carry out immunisation advocacy, communication and social mobilization. There is pool of non-CSO community members who are willing to volunteer. However, some of the CSOs are not good in record keeping. There are also several security threats due to communal clashes. CONCLUSION: There are several strengths and opportunities that the CSOs can leverage on while dealing with identified weaknesses and threats in order to contribute towards increasing the demand for and uptake of immunisation services in this community.

Family planning practices of rural community dwellers in cross River State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world. Despite a high fertility rate of 5.5 per woman and a high population growth rate of 3.2%, Nigeria's contraceptive prevalence is 15%, which is one of the lowest in the world. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge of family planning and family planning preferences and practices of rural community women in Cross River State of Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 291 rural women. Convenience sampling method was used. The women were assembled in a hall and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to every consenting woman until the sample size was attained. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 and presented in tables as frequencies and percentages as well as figures. Association between categorical variables was explored using chi-square test. Binary logistic regression was also performed to determine predictors of use of at least one family planning method at some point in time. RESULTS: Fifty (17.2%) respondents were using at least one family planning method. One hundred and ninety-eight (68.3%) respondents had used at least one family planning method at some point in time. Reasons given for not using any family planning method included "Family planning is against my religious beliefs" (56%); "it is against our culture" (43.8%); "I need more children" (64.9%); "my partner would not agree" (35.3%); "family planning does not work" (42.9%); "it reduces sexual enjoyment" (76%); and "it promotes unfaithfulness/infidelity" (59%). Binary logistic regression conducted to predict the use of at least one family planning method at some point in time using some independent variables showed that who makes the decision regarding family planning use was the strongest predictor of family planning use (OR = 0.567; 95% CI = 0.391-0.821). This suggests that family planning uptake is more likely when couples make a joint decision. CONCLUSION: The proportion of respondents who were currently using at least one family planning method was low. The findings of this study suggest that family planning uptake would increase if couples make joint decisions in this regard.

Attitude and perception of patients towards amputation as a form of surgical treatment in the University of Calabar teaching hospital, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: A survey of the attitude and perception of a cross- section of residents of Calabar to therapeutic limb amputation was done to determine the level of knowledge and understanding of the indications, advantages as well as the prospects for the amputees in our environment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Structured questionnaires were administered to adults at the Orthopaedic Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. Data obtained from the study was analyzed using EPI Info software version 2002. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five respondents participated in this study. There were 88 (57%) males. One hundred and forty respondents (90%) had knowledge of amputation as a treatment method; 134 (86%) knew that amputation is beneficial. Fifty participants (32%) indicated that they had no alternative to amputation when indicated while 36 (36%) of those who would refuse believed in divine and traditional treatment. Eight six regard amputees as normal people with potentials while 14 (9%) regard them as .invalids.. One hundred and five (68%) were aware of the importance of artificial limb while 38 (25%) had no knowledge. One hundred and thirty-one (85%) of respondents regard physicians who do amputation as life savers while 3 (2%) and 9 (6%) regard them as people who take pleasure in amputating limbs and as people who are indifferent to patients' plight respectively. CONCLUSION: Though majority of respondents have a fair knowledge of amputation and would accept or advice others to accept it, there is still need to create more awareness on the importance of amputation and it indications.

Oil doom and AIDS boom in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

CONTEXT: There has been a steady rise in Nigeria's HIV/AIDS burden since the first sero-prevalence survey in 1991. Nigeria's economy is mainly dependent on oil that comes from the Niger Delta Region. The majority of the people of the Niger delta region depend on fishing and farming for livelihood. Years of oil exploration activities with frequent oil spillages have led to severe environmental degradation with resultant destruction of farmlands and aquatic flora and fauna. The situation of the people of Niger Delta is characterised by poverty, high fertility and disease. ISSUE: Oil has become, to the people of the Niger Delta region a doom that has contributed in no small measure to the AIDS boom in the region. The relationship between such a burden and poverty has been forged by years of official neglect, and the presence of foreign workers. In addition, young Nigerians are drawn to the Niger Delta region by the oil economy, searching for non-existent jobs. Within Nigeria, the states of the Niger Delta region bear the burden of the spread of HIV/AIDS, and the region's poverty amidst plenty, has a negative impact on the population. LESSONS: The article concludes that the HIV/AIDS burden of the region deserves urgent and special attention because it has far-reaching implications, not only for control efforts in Nigeria, but also for the rest of the world, as nationals of various countries find employment in its oil fields. A number of recommendations are made.

Reframing the HIV/AIDS debate in developing countries II: case stories of Nigerian rural people living with HIV/AIDS.

Since it was first officially reported in Nigeria in 1984, HIV/AIDS has continued to spread in the country to the extent that today it constitutes a major problem. The two case stories of Nigerian rural people living with HIV/AIDS presented in this article were selected from 200 such stories that were compiled against the backdrop of the impact of scarcity of resources on care and support for People Living With HIV/AIDS from Nigerian rural communities.