Journal of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Sciences

Digital Technology Policy, Use, and Barriers among Educators in Nursing and Midwifery Schools in South-South Nigeria

Itu Nene Eddy — 2026-06-02

Digital technologies are increasingly recognised as essential for contemporary nursing and midwifery education, yet their integration remains uneven in Nigeria. This study examined digital technology policy, use, and barriers among educators in nursing and midwifery schools in South-south Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was adopted. The sample size of 395 but 392 is the number that responded. Cluster sampling technique was applied for selecting the respondents. The study included educators from Schools of Nursing, Schools of Midwifery, and universities offering nursing programmes. Data were collected using a structured self-report questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. About half of respondents (52.6%) reported that their institutions did not permit use of digital learning management systems like Google Classroom, Moodle, and Blackboard. The findings showed low use of digital technologies, with 23.7% of educators reporting frequent use but none for consistent routine use. Computers (92.5%) and projectors (79.6%) were widely available, while e-learning management platforms and online assessment tools were less common. Advanced technologies such as simulation software and virtual reality were completely unavailable. A significant association was found between the type of institution and permission to use digital technologies (χ² = 25.77, df = 2, p < 0.001), with universities more likely to permit use. In conclusion, digital technology integration in nursing and midwifery education in South-South Nigeria is fragmented and institutionally constrained. It is recommended that targeted investment in infrastructure, formal institutional policies, and sustained capacity-building programmes be prioritised to strengthen digital education integration.

Perceived Benefits, Willingness and Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus Screening and Vaccination among Female Undergraduates in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Oluwatosin Esther Akomolede — 2026-05-29

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection of which many of the infected persons were in their late teens and early 20s. HPV is also responsible for causing cervical cancer. The major primary prevention of HPV includes prophylactic screening and vaccination.

Objectives: The study assessed the perceived benefits, willingness and uptake of HPV screening and vaccination among female undergraduates in University of Ibadan.

Methodology: A cross-sectional research design was adopted and 308 females from the university answered the self-structured pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 25). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present results and test hypotheses

Results: The mean age of the respondents is 22±4years. Analysis revealed positive perceived benefits of HPV screening and vaccination 179(58%), high willingness to uptake screening 197(64%) and vaccination 231(75%) and poor uptake of HPV screening and vaccination 15(5%). Ethnicity does not have any significant influence on the uptake (R²= 0.05, p = 0.216) and no significant relationship between the perceived benefits and uptake (p=0.257). There is a positive perceived benefits of HPV screening and vaccination, average willingness to undergo screening and vaccination and poor uptake of screening and vaccination amongst the female undergraduate students.

Conclusion: It is therefore necessary the government and other stakeholders provide adequate funds for health sector to procure vaccines and screening equipment for HPV screening and vaccination.

Timing of First Antenatal Booking among Adolescent Mothers Attending Primary Health Centres in Obio-Akpor LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria

Mercy Adaobi Isabu — 2026-05-27

Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to its association with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) is essential for improving these outcomes; however, utilization among adolescents is often suboptimal. This study assessed the timing of ANC initiation among adolescent mothers in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 254 adolescent mothers aged 15–19 years who were either pregnant or had delivered within the previous 12 months. A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit participants from selected Primary Health Centres. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and supplemented with antenatal records. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for analysis at a significance level of p < 0.05. Using a collapsed age grouping for brevity, the majority of respondents were aged 17–19 years (77.2%), single (52.8%), and had secondary education (49.6%). Although all respondents attended ANC, only 16.1% initiated care in the first trimester, while 49.5% and 34.4% initiated care in the second and third trimesters, respectively. Similar patterns were observed among those who had delivered within the previous 12 months. The study revealed a high level of ANC attendance but poor early initiation, indicating delayed engagement with maternal health services among adolescent mothers. Targeted interventions aimed at promoting early ANC booking, improving adolescent-friendly services, and addressing socio-economic barriers are recommended.

Perceptions of Couples and Healthcare Providers on the Cost of Fertility Treatment: A Mixed-Methods Study from Two Tertiary Facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria

Confidence Echeta — 2026-05-23

Background: High fertility treatment costs remain a major barrier to accessing reproductive healthcare in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Understanding the perceptions of couples and healthcare providers regarding these costs is important for developing equitable fertility care policies.

Objectives: This study examined perceptions of couples and healthcare providers on the cost of fertility treatment, its influence on access and decision-making, and factors contributing to high treatment costs in two tertiary fertility facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods design was adopted. Data were collected from 276 respondents using structured questionnaires administered at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Noble Medical Consultants and Fertility Hospital (NMCFH) between November 2025 and March 2026. Six purposively selected participants participated in in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Results: Couples perceived fertility treatment as largely unaffordable, with medication expenses, repeated treatment cycles, and out-of-pocket payments identified as major financial burdens (mean ≥ 3.8). High costs discouraged treatment continuation, delayed care-seeking, and limited access to quality services. Healthcare providers agreed that treatment costs exceeded patients’ income levels and contributed to poor treatment compliance, delayed presentation, and discontinuation of care. Major cost drivers included fertility drugs, diagnostic tests, IVF and ICSI procedures, inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and dependence on imported equipment.

Conclusions: Financial barriers significantly limit access to fertility treatment in Rivers State, Nigeria. Subsidised fertility services, insurance coverage for assisted reproductive technologies, and local production of consumables are recommended to improve affordability and equitable access.

Compliance with Routine Childhood Immunization Schedules among Mothers Attending Primary and Tertiary Healthcare Facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Jane Ijeoma Obialor — 2026-04-23

Background: Routine childhood immunization is a cornerstone of child survival. In Rivers State, Nigeria, maternal compliance with immunization schedules remains sub-optimal due to socio-demographic, access-related, and informational barriers.

Objective: This study assessed compliance with routine childhood immunization schedules among mothers attending primary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Rivers State, determined influencing factors, and examined the impact of compliance on overall immunization coverage.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 422 mothers were recruited through a multistage sampling technique from six healthcare facilities spanning all three senatorial districts of Rivers State. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Most respondents were aged 30–39 years (44.3%), held tertiary-level education (53.9%), and were married (69.8%). Immunization compliance was generally high: 72.0% always brought their children for scheduled vaccinations, and 83.9% used health record cards for schedule tracking. Healthcare provider advice (β = 0.72; OR = 2.06; p < 0.001), ease of access (β = 0.45; OR = 1.57; p < 0.001), satisfaction with immunization information (β = 0.50; OR = 1.65; p < 0.001), and perceived vaccine benefits (β = 1.20; OR = 3.32; p < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of compliance. The majority of mothers (75.8%) believed their compliance improved community immunization coverage, and 90.0% observed health benefits in their children.

Conclusions: Although compliance was generally high, barriers related to access, financial constraints, and occasional missed appointments persisted. Strengthening healthcare provider communication, improving service accessibility, and deploying digital reminder tools are recommended to sustain and enhance immunization coverage in Rivers State.

Factors Influencing the Application of Ethical Principles in Clinical Practice among Student Nurses: Implications for Nursing Education and Practice

Aleruchi Lenchi Oji — 2026-04-05

Background: Ethical principles form the foundation of professional nursing practice, yet student nurses often encounter significant barriers in applying them consistently during clinical placements. Understanding these factors is essential for improving nursing education and reducing moral distress among future nurses.

Aim: This study examined the perceived factors influencing the application of ethical principles in clinical practice among undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Using convenience sampling, 202 electronic questionnaires were distributed to Years 2–4 nursing students at Rivers State University, Nigeria; 191 valid responses were obtained (95.6% response rate). Data were collected via a researcher-developed, structured questionnaire with established face/content validity and acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.68). Analysis utilized descriptive statistics in SPSS version 27, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations.

Results: Respondents were predominantly female (67.5%) and aged below 20 years (49.2%). The grand mean score for perceived inhibiting factors was 3.29 (SD = 0.79) on a 4-point Likert scale, indicating strong agreement. Top barriers included poor/lack of knowledge of ethical principles (M = 3.43), inadequate supervision leading to non-accountability and negligence (M = 3.39), influence of institutional policies/procedures (M = 3.38), time constraints, organizational barriers, stress overload, lack of advocacy support, and poor communication among nurses.

Conclusion: Significant individual, educational, organizational, and systemic barriers hinder ethical principle application among student nurses. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced ethics education, improved clinical supervision, supportive institutional policies, and resource allocation in nursing curricula and practice settings to foster ethical competence, mitigate moral distress, and promote high-quality, principled patient care in Nigeria and similar contexts.

Relationship between Staffing Patterns, Workload, and Burnout among Public Health Nurses in Primary Healthcare Centres in Rivers State

Vivian Tamunobaraboye Sylvester — 2026-04-27

Background: Burnout among nursing professionals is a worldwide issue, especially in low-resource contexts, where primary healthcare (PHC) systems experience chronic staffing shortages and large patient volumes. PHN in Nigeria is the cornerstone of community health services and their psychological well-being is usually undermined by structural forces.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between the staffing patterns, workload, and burnout among PHNs in PHC centres in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey, which is descriptive in nature, was carried out on a group of 293 PHNs out of 800 PHNs who were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire with the Workload Assessment Technique (DLR-WAT), NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to collect the data. The data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation with a significance level of 0.05.

Findings: Adequacy of staffing was slightly adequate (51.19%), and there were notable gaps in peak staffing periods (52.22% insufficient). The level of work was also acutely high, with high physical demand (61.43%) and the constantly present time pressure (54.61%). Burnout was quite high, with 61.43% reporting emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. There was observed a burnout-engagement paradox, with 59.73% having a strong sense of personal accomplishment despite exhaustion. Inferential analysis determined that there was a strong negative correlation between staffing patterns and burnout (r = -0.850, p < 0.001) and strong positive correlation between workload and burnout (r = 0.810, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Burnout in PHNs in Rivers State is mostly instigated by insufficient staffing and workloads. These are the aspects that pose threats to the sustainability of primary healthcare provision. Policy frameworks with minimum nurse-to-patient ratios and institutional mental health support must be in place to protect the workforce.

Gastric Histomorphological Changes in Albino Rats Administered with Herbal Boobs Enlargement and Lifting Tea

Samuel Ifedioranma Ogenyi — 2026-04-21

The study investigated the histomorphological changes in the stomach of albino rats administered with herbal boobs enlargement and lifting tea, to assess the impact of the herbal tea on behaviour, body weight, and stomach weight. This case-control experimental study was conducted at the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. The research period lasted 30 days, with 7, 21, and 30-day periods across the groups. A total of 16 rats were used, divided into four groups (A, B, C, D), with each group containing four rats. Group "A" was not administered with boobs enlargement and lifting tea (control group); group "B" was administered with 0.5ml/kg body weight of boobs enlargement and lifting tea daily for 7 days; group "C" was administered with 0.5ml/kg body weight of boobs enlargement and lifting tea for 21 days; group "D" was administered with 0.5ml/kg body weight of boobs enlargement and lifting tea for 30 days. Stomach tissue was excised for histopathology. Data for body weight and organ weight were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Behavioural observations include drowsiness, increased sleep duration, and reduced locomotion. The body weight results showed statistically significant differences in the initial and final weights of the control group A (p=0.019) and the experimental groups B (p= <0.001), C (p=0.001), and D (p=0.004). The stomach weights showed no statistically significant difference in the experimental groups when compared to the control group, with the p-values of groups B, C, and D being 0.128, 0.116 and 0.211, respectively. Histological analysis of the stomach tissues from the test groups exhibited consistent normal histology with the control group. This study concluded that the experimental rats showed drowsiness, increased period of sleep, and reduced locomotor movement. Experimental and control groups showed an increase in body weight. The mean relative stomach weights revealed no statistically significant difference in the experimental groups when compared to the control groups. Only group B showed a statistically significant difference in the mean relative liver weight. The stomach tissues revealed normal tissue histology across the control and experimental groups. Boobs enlargement tea has no negative effect on the liver and stomach of Albino rats at this concentration and duration.