scholarly journals Female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services at primary health care level in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekechi Okereke ◽  
Godwin Unumeri ◽  
Akinwumi Akinola ◽  
George Eluwa ◽  
Sylvia Adebajo
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Gender Preferences ◽  
Newborn And Child Health ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Female Clients ◽  
And Child Health

Abstract Background In Nigeria, anecdotes abound that female clients, particularly within northern Nigeria, have gender-based preferences for frontline health workers (FLHWs) who provide healthcare services. This may adversely affect uptake of maternal newborn and child health services, especially at primary healthcare level in Nigeria, where a huge proportion of the Nigerian population and rural community members in particular, access healthcare services. This study explored female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) services at primary healthcare level in Nigeria. Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design with 256 female clients’ exit interviews from 66 randomly selected primary health facilities within two States - Bauchi (northern Nigeria) and Cross-River (southern Nigeria). Data was collected using Personal Digital Assistants and data analysis was done using SPSS software. Descriptive analysis was carried out using percentage frequency distribution tables. Bivariate analysis was also carried out to examine possible relationships between key characteristic variables and the gender preferences of female clients involved in the study. Results Out of 256 women who accessed maternal, newborn and child health services within the sampled health facilities, 44.1% stated preference for female FLHWs, 2.3% preferred male FLHWs while 53.5% were indifferent about the gender of the health worker. However only 26.6% of female clients were attended to by male FLHWs. Bivariate analyses suggest a relationship between a female client’s health worker gender preference and her pregnancy status, the specific reason for which a female client visits a primary healthcare facility, a female client’s location in Nigeria as well as the gender of the health worker(s) working within the primary healthcare facility which she visits to access maternal, newborn and child health services. Conclusions The study findings suggest that female clients at primary healthcare level in Nigeria possibly have gender preferences for the frontline health workers who provide services to them. There should be sustained advocacy and increased efforts at community engagement to promote the acceptability of healthcare services from male frontline health workers in order to have a significant impact on the uptake of MNCH services, particularly within northern Nigeria.

scholarly journals Female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services at primary health care level in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekechi Okereke ◽  
Godwin Unumeri ◽  
Akinwumi Akinola ◽  
George Eluwa ◽  
Sylvia Adebajo
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Gender Preferences ◽  
Newborn And Child Health ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Female Clients ◽  
And Child Health

Abstract Background In Nigeria, anecdotes abound that female clients, particularly within northern Nigeria, have gender-based preferences for frontline health workers (FLHWs) who provide healthcare services. This may adversely affect uptake of maternal newborn and child health services, especially at primary healthcare level in Nigeria, where a huge proportion of the Nigerian population and rural community members in particular, access healthcare services. This study explored female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) services at primary healthcare level in Nigeria. Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design with 256 female clients’ exit interviews from selected primary health facilities within two States - Bauchi (northern Nigeria) and Cross-River (southern Nigeria). Data was collected using Personal Digital Assistants and data analysis was done using SPSS software. Descriptive analysis was carried out using percentage frequency distribution tables. Bivariate analysis was also carried out to examine possible relationships between key characteristic variables and the gender preferences of female clients involved in the study. Results Out of 256 women who accessed maternal, newborn and child health services within the sampled health facilities, 44.1% stated preference for female FLHWs, 2.3% preferred male FLHWs while 53.5% were indifferent about the gender of the health worker. However only 26.6% of female clients were attended to by male FLHWs. Bivariate analysis suggests a relationship between a female client’s health worker gender preference and her pregnancy status, the specific reason for which a female client visits a primary healthcare facility, a female client’s location in Nigeria as well as the gender of the health worker(s) working within the primary healthcare facility which she visits to access maternal, newborn and child health services. Conclusions The study findings suggest that female clients at primary healthcare level in Nigeria possibly have gender preferences for the frontline health workers who provide services to them. There should be sustained advocacy and increased efforts at community engagement to promote the acceptability of healthcare services from male frontline health workers in order to have a significant impact on the uptake of MNCH services, particularly within northern Nigeria.

scholarly journals Female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services at primary health care level in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekechi Okereke ◽  
Godwin Unumeri ◽  
Akinwumi Akinola ◽  
George Eluwa ◽  
Sylvia Adebajo
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Gender Preferences ◽  
Newborn And Child Health ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Female Clients ◽  
And Child Health

Abstract Background In Nigeria, anecdotes abound that female clients, particularly within northern Nigeria, have gender-based preferences for frontline health workers (FLHWs) who provide healthcare services. This may adversely affect uptake of maternal newborn and child health services, especially at primary healthcare level in Nigeria, where a huge proportion of the Nigerian population and rural community members in particular, access healthcare services. This study explored female clients’ gender preferences for frontline health workers who provide maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) services at primary healthcare level in Nigeria. Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design with 256 female clients’ exit interviews from 66 randomly selected primary health facilities within two States - Bauchi (northern Nigeria) and Cross-River (southern Nigeria). Data was collected using Personal Digital Assistants and data analysis was done using SPSS software. Descriptive analysis was carried out using percentage frequency distribution tables. Bivariate analysis was also carried out to examine possible relationships between key characteristic variables and the gender preferences of female clients involved in the study. Results Out of 256 women who accessed maternal, newborn and child health services within the sampled health facilities, 44.1% stated preference for female FLHWs, 2.3% preferred male FLHWs while 53.5% were indifferent about the gender of the health worker. However only 26.6% of female clients were attended to by male FLHWs. Bivariate analyses suggest a relationship between a female client’s health worker gender preference and her pregnancy status, the specific reason for which a female client visits a primary healthcare facility, a female client’s location in Nigeria as well as the gender of the health worker(s) working within the primary healthcare facility which she visits to access maternal, newborn and child health services. Conclusions The study findings strongly suggest that female clients at primary healthcare level in Nigeria possibly have gender preferences for the frontline health workers who provide services to them. There should be sustained advocacy and increased efforts at community engagement to promote the acceptability of healthcare services from male frontline health workers in order to have a significant impact on the uptake of MNCH services, particularly within northern Nigeria.

Perceptions of Inequity in the Provision and Utilization of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Services in Tigray, Ethiopia. A Qualitative Explorative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alem Desta Wuneh ◽  
Afework Mulugeta Bezabih ◽  
Lars Ake Persson ◽  
Yemisrach Behailu Okwaraji ◽  
Araya Abrha Medhanyie
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Newborn And Child Health ◽  
And Child Health

Abstract Background: We have earlier shown that the utilization of Ethiopian maternal health services was distributed pro-rich, while child immunization was equitably distributed. Hence, this study aimed at exploring rural Ethiopian women’s and primary health care workers’ perceptions of inequities and their causes in the provision and utilization of maternal, newborn, and child health services. Methods: The study was conducted from August to December 2019 in two rural districts of Tigray, Ethiopia. We performed twenty-two in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions with women who had given birth the last year preceding the survey, women’s development group leaders, health extension workers from health posts, and health workers from health centers. The final sample was determined based on the concept of saturation. The interviews and focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The provision and utilization of antenatal care, facility-based delivery, and care-seeking for sick children were perceived inequitably distributed. Immunization was perceived as an equitable service. The inequity in the provision and utilization of maternal and child health services was linked to the economy, distance, social and cultural norms, low quality of service, maternal age, and education. Poor implementation of the Government’s equity-oriented policies, such as community-based health insurance, was perceived to result in health inequities. Conclusion: Mothers and primary healthcare providers in rural Ethiopia indicated weaknesses in delivering equitable services and reasons for inequitable utilization. The narratives could inform efforts to provide universal health coverage for mothers, newborns, and children. These problems require multisectoral actions to address the identified sources of inequities.

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