Background Caregivers of the elderly with chronic illnesses are exposed to the burden associated with their caregiving activities. This study described the lived experience of caregivers of older adults in Nigeria. Methods A qualitative design guided by interpretive phenomenology informed the design of the research, whereby 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers of older adults with chronic illnesses. The interview sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and analysed using constant comparison analysis method. Results Fifteen caregivers, from different parts of Osun State, Nigeria, took part in the in-depth interviews. The caregivers were aged between 19 and 70 years, ten were women, five of them had secondary education, seven were self-employed and six were in a spousal relationship. The study uncovered four interrelated themes with explanatory subthemes—commitment to preservation of life ( man aging challenges associated with daily routine, problem with mobility, bathing and grooming, feeding, and problem with hygiene ) (ii) denial ( refusal to accept that burden exists) , other things suffer ( disruption of family process, suffering from poor health and social isolation ), (iv) reciprocity of care ( pride in caregiving, caregiving as a necessity and not by choice, and law of karma ). Conclusion This study provides insight into the burden of care of older adults with chronic illness. Caregivers’ commitment to preserving life makes them provide assistance whose performance even run contrary to their own wellbeing. Intervention programme should be designed to support the caregivers thereby improving their wellbeing.
Background The mental strain of pregnancy and child-rearing can lead to depression, especially when the expectant mother is also a teenager who will need robust social support to adequately cope with motherhood at this vulnerable stage of life. In Nigeria, teenage pregnancy and motherhood can prevent them from acquiring an education or the skills to earn money, and many teenage mothers struggle with depression and other health issues. Aim To assess the relationship between perceived social support and level of depression among pregnant and child-rearing teenagers in the Ife East Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria. Methods A descriptive study design was employed and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit response from 120 pregnant and child-rearing teenagers who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were computed on sociodemographic characteristics, level of perceived social support, and level of depression among respondents. The Pearson correlation test was used to assess the relationship between perceived social support and level of depression. Findings More than half (54.2%) of the respondents reported a moderate level of perceived social support, and few respondents (12.5%) reported that they received low social support. Many (44.2%) of the respondents reported no depression, and few respondents (10.0%) were categorised as severely depressed. The study found a significant, moderately strong, negative correlation between respondents' level of social support and depression (r=−0.510, P=<0.0001). Conclusion There is a significant association between the level of perceived social support received and the development of depression among pregnant and child-rearing teenagers in Nigeria. Hence, there is an urgent need for appropriate community health information, education and programmes to facilitate support for pregnant and child-rearing teenagers. This will help to reduce depression and improve health outcomes for teenage mothers.
Background The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) aims to transform higher education in Africa. One of its main thrusts is supporting promising university faculty (fellows) to obtain high quality doctoral training. CARTA offers fellows robust support which includes funding of their attendance at Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes) throughout the doctoral training period. An evaluation is critical in improving program outcomes. In this study; we, CARTA fellows who attended the fourth JAS in 2018, appraised the CARTA program from our perspective, specifically focusing on the organization of the program and its influence on the fellows’ individual and institutional development. Methods Exploratory Qualitative Study Design was used and data was obtained from three focus group discussions among the fellows in March 2018. The data were analyzed using thematic approach within the framework of good practice elements in doctoral training–Formal Research Training, Activities Driven by Doctoral Candidates, Career Development as well as Concepts and Structures. Results In all, 21 fellows from six African countries participated and all had been in the CARTA program for at least three years. The fellowship has increased fellows research skills and expanded our research capacities. This tremendously improved the quality of our doctoral research and it was also evident in our research outputs, including the number of peer-reviewed publications. The CARTA experience inculcated a multidisciplinary approach to our research and enabled significant improvement in our organizational, teaching, and leadership skills. All these were achieved through the well-organized structures of CARTA and these have transformed us to change agents who are already taking on research and administrative responsibilities in our various home institutions. Unfortunately, during the long break between the second and the third JAS, there was a gap in communication between CARTA and her fellows, which resulted in some transient loss of focus by a few fellows. Conclusion The CARTA model which builds the research capacity of doctoral fellows through robust support, including intermittent strategic Joint Advanced Seminars has had effective and transformative impacts on our doctoral odyssey. However, there is a need to maintain the momentum through continuous communication between CARTA and the fellows all through this journey.
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