Breastfeeding is considered as the most complete nutritional source for infants because breast milk contains the essential carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the formative first year of life. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential when promoting optimal breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed knowledge and intention to practice EBF and its associated factors during pregnancy among primiparous women in selected communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population study that applied inclusion criteria was used to recruit 201 primiparous mothers attending their third trimester antenatal care from selected health facilities in rural and urban communities in Enugu State. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' knowledge and intention to practice EBF. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize categorical and continuous variables while Chi-square and Wald statistic tests predicted demographic data associated with knowledge status and intention to practice EBF of the participants. More than half (58.7%) of primiparous mothers had inadequate knowledge of EBF and only 62.7% had intention to exclusively breastfeed for 4–6 months. The Chi-square test result showed significant difference in the participants' place of residence (p = 0.024), EBF knowledge sources (p = 0.001), and EBF knowledge. The Wald statistic in Logistic regression model indicated the coefficient of age (p = 0.026), educational attainment (p = 0.046), EBF knowledge (p = 0.016), and sources of information about EBF (p = 0.027) to be significant predictors of good intention to practise EBF. Poor EBF knowledge and intention to practice in this population may be improved by combining facility-based and in-house methods of breastfeeding counseling, education, and support especially to intending and expectant mothers. Further studies are needed to be done using the multiparous women as well as assessing the effects of in-house EBF supportive-educative intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

BackgroundThe combination of child care and domestic work demands on both housewives and the employed (hired) women may impact their health-related quality-of-life. There is paucity of studies to ascertain this. This study investigated the differences in health-related quality of life of employed and unemployed women with normal vaginal delivery and associated socio-demographic variables.MethodsThis longitudinal study was done from March, 2012 to June, 2013. Modified SF-36v2™ health-related quality of life questionnaire was administered to 234 newly delivered women drawn from six selected hospitals in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria at 6, 12 and 18 weeks postpartum. Respondents were reached for data collection through personal contacts initially at the hospitals of delivery, and subsequently by visits to their homes/workplaces or cell-phone calls. Women were asked to indicate how each of 36 items applied to them at each of the three times. Data collection lasted for six calendar months and 17 days (from September 3rd 2012 to 20th March, 2013).ResultsAll the women had their best HrQoL at 12 weeks postpartum. Employed women reported lower health-related quality-of-life than the unemployed at the three time-points, the lowest mean score being at 18 weeks postpartum (Mean = 73.9). Multiple comparison of scores of the two groups using Tukey HSD Repeated Mean showed significant variation on the eight subscales of the health-related quality-of-life. Physical functioning (p = 0.045), Physical role limitation (p = 0.000), bodily pain (p = 0.000), social functioning (p = 0.000) and general health (p = 0.000) were unequal guaranteeing type 1 error. Women with higher education and personal income reported higher health-related quality-of-life (p < 0.05). Employed women have more problems with physical health components and are more negatively affected by increasing age except those with higher education and personal income.ConclusionsIncreased responsibilities combined with increasing age and low socio-economic status reduce women’s health-related quality-of-life post-partum. The traditionally accepted paid 3 months maternity leave should be elongated by extra months to help women balance their daily work with baby care. Gender sensitive employment opportunities in favour of women are necessary to empower more women economically.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-017-0481-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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This study examined the home management of febrile conditions in 131 children by caregivers who attended Children Emergency (CHER) clinics of selected health facilities in Anambra South-East Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study and all caregivers gave their informed consent before the study. The children were aged between 1 day and 5 years old, and had fever as one of the presenting symptoms. A self-developed questionnaire and observation guide were used for data collection and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Results of the study revealed that 123 (93.9%) of the caregivers first treated their febrile children at home before reporting to the health facility. The immediate actions taken by 99 of the 131 respondents (75.5%) were: the removal of clothing and exposing the child to air, and administering syrup paracetamol and antibiotics, respectively. The most common home remedies used by caregivers were herbal preparations. However, the proportion of caregivers that used home preparations (name—unknown) as home remedies (n=84; 75.7%) was not statistically significant (Zcal1.85<Ztab1.96; P=0.06). A significant proportion (Zcal7.522>Ztab1.96; P=0.02) of caregivers (120, 91.6%) specified ‘first aid’ as their reason for treatment at home. The proportion of cases that survived when brought to the health facility for management was also statistically significant (Zcal7.279>Ztab1.96; P=0.03). Thus, the study suggests that treatment practices at home by caregivers constitute major determinants of the outcome of management of febrile conditions at health facility.

Background A crucial strategy for preserving skills and job motivation is continuing professional development. This research aims to evaluate how nurses at NNUH perceived the hospital's mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) program. Method The study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Nablus, Palestine. A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study was conducted from July to September 202 for 202 full-time and in-duty nurses at NNUH using the Chikaodili Ihudiebube-splendor questionnaire. Results The Web survey of 202 nurses shows that the nurse’s perception of mandatory continuing education for professional development is statistically significant with age, sex and marital status. The highest mean score was 3.29 for "Continuing education should be made mandatory for nurses," and 2.39 for that mandatory CPD programs are useful for nurses. However, the overall perceived relevance of these items was not positive (2.39 ± 0.77). The mean score for all items related to the reason for participation was greater than 2.5 and the participants had a significant positive score (3.19 ± 0.49). The remaining perceived obstacles to requiring ongoing education for professional growth were greater than 2.5, and the total perceived obstacle was positive (2.80 ± 0.66). Only one item, "Lack of employer's cooperation," fell below the cut-off point of 2.25. Conclusions Nurses mostly perceive that continuing education should be made mandatory for nurses, and the things I learn in mandatory continuing education programs will be useful to me. There are many reasons for participating in required education programs, and finally, nurses face many barriers to required continuing education for professional development at NNUH. Implications Special attention and targeted support should be provided to promote the continuing professional development of nursing staff. Nurses maintained a positive attitude towards continued professional development, but faced challenges.