With the advent of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, Human Immune Virus, and Acquire Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome is increasingly becoming a chronic disease as life expectancy among People Living With HIV/AIDS has increased. For Children Living With HIV/AIDS the role of the caregivers becomes essential as caregivers’ decisions affect CLWH health. However, the experiences of these caregivers are often unnoticed while all interventions are directed at PLWH. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of caregivers of CLWH in some selected hospitals in northern Ghana. This study employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 9 participants from 3 public hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. Data was manually analyzed using the approach of Collaizi and the findings were presented in themes and sub-themes. We conducted individual face to face interviews in English and Dagbani from September to November 2019. These interviews were conducted at the convenience of the participants in hospitals and at their homes. They were introduced to the study while awaiting to take antivirals for their CLWH. Five themes emerged: changed family dynamics, discovery of diagnosis, reaction to diagnosis, disclosure, stigma and discrimination, and burden and challenges of care. Caregivers were severely impacted by caring for CLWH and traumatized by changed family dynamics which exposed them to many difficulties. Stigma was widely perpetrated by immediate family members and majority reacted badly to their children HIV-positive status with fear, shame, guilt and even suicidal ideation.

Introduction The successful transition of nurses from clinical practice to academia is essential to the training of a proficient future nursing workforce. However, deprived of requisite support and guidance, novice nurse educators often find the transition from bedside nursing practice to the classroom challenging and hence, adopt some coping strategies to facilitate their transition. Yet, little is known about the strategies adopted by Ghanaian novice nurse educators to facilitate their transition. Objective This study explored the strategies adopted by novice nurse educators to facilitate their transition from practice to academia in three nursing training colleges in Ghana. Methods This study adopted a descriptive qualitative study design. The study used a purposive sampling technique to recruit 12 novice nurse educators. Data were generated through individual in-depth interviews using a semistructured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed manually through thematic analysis. Results Novice nurse educators adopted a wide range of strategies to facilitate their transition from practice to academia. Four major themes emerged: (1) seeking support from peers, (2) attending workshops and conferences, (3) relying on performance appraisal and feedback, and (4) applying past clinical nursing knowledge. Conclusion The strategies adopted to facilitate the transition were mostly self-inspired and informal, which calls for more formal and evidence-based strategies to facilitate the transition process. College authorities must create, or adopt and modify faculty mentorship models to mentor novice nurse educators, develop and implement college-specific orientation programmes for novice nurse educators, and implement regular online tutor appraisals by students.

Background HIV/AIDS is now a chronic disease, as adherence to anti-retrovirals impacts positively on the quality as well as expectancy of life. However, there exist multifaceted barriers to treatments for which children are most disadvantaged. Since Ghana subscribed to the “treat all” policy less percentage (25.5%) of children (2–14 years) living with HIV/AIDS have been enrolled on the antiretroviral program compared to other categories of the population by 2019. At present no study has explored these barriers to children living with HIV/AIDS enrollment and adherence. This study aims to explore the perceived barriers of caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS in the Tamale Metropolis. Methods We used descriptive phenomenology to explore the phenomena. Caregivers were purposively selected and interviewed till information became repetitive at the ninth (9th) caregiver. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through face-to-face in-depth interviews which were audio recorded. The interviews lasted an average of 47 minutes. Audio interviews were transcribed verbatim (English) and translated back-to-back (Daghani) before analysis was done manually according to Collaizi’s seven-step approach. We used the Guba and Lincoln guidelines to ensure the rigour of the study and its findings. Results are presented in themes and supported with quotes. Results Six themes emerged from the analysis of the caregivers’ transcripts; (1) denial of HIV/AID diagnosis, (2) stock-outs and privacy at the clinic, (3) busy schedule and poor support, (4) ignorance and alternative herbal cure, (5) stigma and discrimination, (6) transportation and distance. Conclusion Perceived barriers are multi-dimensional and encountered by all PLWHA, especially children. These barriers could derail the gains of HIV/AIDS interventions among children. Adherence counselling among caregivers alongside campaigns among faith and herbal healers are of grave concern to reduce myths of cure.

Background There is an increasing transition rate of experienced clinical nurses from practice to academia. When nurses transition from practice to academia for the right reasons, it culminates in job satisfaction and retention. Thus, understanding what attracts clinical nurses to academia is an important consideration for employing and retaining competent nurse educators. Yet, there are gaps in research about what motivates nurses to transition from practice to academia within the Ghanaian context. This study aimed to explore the reasons for novice nurse educators’ transition from practice to academia in three Health Training Institutions in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods This qualitative descriptive phenomenology study used a purposive sampling method to select 12 novice nurse educators. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide through individual face-to-face in-depth interviews. Written informed consent was obtained and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was done manually guided by Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Results Novice nurse educators transitioned from practice to academia because they were dissatisfied with their clinical nursing practice, they wanted more flexible work, they wanted to work autonomously, and they previously taught their clients in the clinical setting. Four themes emerged namely: (1) dissatisfied with clinical nursing, (2) quest for flexible work role, (3) quest for work autonomy, and (4) previous clinical teaching. Conclusion The reasons for transitioning from practice to academia were mostly born out of novice nurse educators’ previous negative experiences in the clinical setting which ought to be considered in the recruitment and retention of teaching staff to train the future nurses. There is the need to revise and implement a tutor recruitment policy that takes into account, what attracts clinical nurses to the academic setting.

Background Episiotomy is a surgical incision made on the perineum of a woman to increase the vulval diameter during child birth at the second stage of labour. It is practiced all over the world and said to be the most common obstetric surgical procedure globally. Prevention of extensive blood loss, prolapse of genital organs and shortening of the second stage of labor are reasons for its practice. However, the experiences of women who undergo this phenomenon remain largely unexplored. Methods an institutional based descriptive qualitative design was employed in this study and a semi structured interview guide was used for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the participants for the study. Recorded in-depth interviews were conducted and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Episiotomy was perceived as useful procedure that facilitates birthing by cutting. It was also opined by participants that the procedure spoils the vaginal orifice and those who undergo the procedure were not “women enough”. Participants also felt there was generally poor preparation prior to undergoing the procedure and no opportunity offered to accept or decline the procedure. Conclusion Postpartum mothers had fair knowledge but were not adequately prepared for the procedure. Their perception was just about the procedure helping them to deliver their children and did not know of other benefits and effects. They as well did not go through proper consent process. The study recommends structured education on episiotomy during antenatal and the practice of restrictive episiotomy over routine episiotomies.