UTILIZATION AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF MENTOR MOTHERS' SUPPORT AMONG CHILDBEARING WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

2026-01-26T08:11:54+00:00

Across the globe, HIV continuously poses a critical public health challenge, particularly affecting women during their reproductive years. Data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS reveals that in 2022, 39 million people were living with HIV, of which 1.5 million were children aged 0-14 years, with 53% being women and girls. Peer support interventions have emerged as promising strategies to address the multifaceted challenges faced by people living with HIV. This study assessed the utilization and perceived benefits of mentor mothers’ support among childbearing women living with HIV. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 370 childbearing mothers were recruited using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire, was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and presented in a frequency table. Hypotheses were tested at 5% level of significance. Results revealed that 254 respondents (68.6%) were between the age group of 21 and 30 years with mean age and standard deviation of 28.1 6.0 years; 232 respondents (62.8%) were married; 173 respondents (46.8%) were artisans; 226 respondents (61.1%) had tertiary education; 201 respondents (54.3%) were not currently pregnant; 268 respondents (72.4%) were multiparous; 201 respondents (54.3%) had utilized mentor mother services; 175 respondents (47.3%) showed the need for emotional support as the factor influencing service utilization; 103 respondents (27.8%) showed making infant feeding decisions as the most valued benefits; 344 respondents (93%) identified long waiting times as barrier to utilization; age and education level (p value = 0.002), including perceived benefits (p value = 0.001) were found to be significantly associated with service utilization. The strong association between perceived benefits and utilization underscores the critical importance of effective communication about service value and addressing systemic barriers to access.

INTERPROFESSIONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS AND ROLE CONFLICT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SETTINGS: EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

2026-02-16T13:36:00+00:00

Background: Effective Interprofessional collaboration is crucial for providing comprehensive primary healthcare (PHC); nonetheless, ongoing disagreement among healthcare workers hinders service delivery, especially in resource-limited environments. In Nigeria, primary healthcare centers employ various personnel, although ambiguous position delineations and systemic limitations frequently exacerbate workplace conflict. The lived experiences of community health nurses about these processes remain inadequately examined, particularly in Northern Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate the experiences of community health nurses concerning Interprofessional work relationships and role conflict within primary health care clinics in Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria. A qualitative study employing a hermeneutic phenomenological design was executed. Twelve community health nurses were intentionally chosen from primary health care facilities throughout Bauchi metropolis. Data were gathered via comprehensive, semi-structured interviews conducted from August to October 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach to discover emerging themes. Findings: Five principal themes emerged from the data: (1) Inadequate Interprofessional Collaboration, characterized by isolated, task-focused efforts with limited teamwork or collective decision-making; (2) Role Ambiguity and Overlap, wherein unclear job descriptions and overlapping responsibilities between nurses and community health extension workers resulted in confusion and tension; (3) Professional Rivalry and Power Struggles, evident as competition for authority, recognition, and influence within facilities; (4) Detrimental Effects on Nurses and Care Delivery, resulting in nurse frustration, demotivation, intentions to resign, and perceived compromises in the quality and continuity of patient care; and (5) The Aggravating Influence of the Work Environment, where insufficient infrastructure, resource scarcity, and staffing shortages heightened interpersonal conflicts. Conclusion: Interprofessional relationships in the examined PHC settings are defined by substantial conflict originating from systemic deficiencies in role clarity, supportive leadership, and resource availability. These disputes detrimentally impair nurse well-being and undermine the quality and coordination of patient care. The findings underline an urgent need for health system interventions that address both the structural determinants—such as formalizing scopes of practice and improving work conditions—and the relational aspects of cooperation through leadership training and dispute resolution procedures. Strengthening the relational foundation of PHC teams is crucial for developing resilient, effective primary healthcare systems in Nigeria and similar countries.

Academic Journal of Nursing and Health Education

UTILIZATION AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF MENTOR MOTHERS' SUPPORT AMONG CHILDBEARING WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

INTERPROFESSIONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS AND ROLE CONFLICT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SETTINGS: EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA