AIDS care in Nigeria: Are nurses comfortable performing procedures?

Abstract

Nurses' feeling of comfort during care is important to stay on the job and for their choice of specialty of care. This study aimed to assess nurses' level of comfort in providing care to patients living with AIDS and to determine the sociodemographic variables that influence nurses' comfort. Nurses in four hospitals in Nigeria (n = 277) were surveyed using a questionnaire that elicited information on their demographic characteristics, previous AIDS encounter, and their comfort taking vital signs, casually handling, administering enema and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and in recommending exercise and physical therapy to patients living with AIDS. Nigerian nurses were uncomfortable with resuscitation and also showed discomfort not wearing gloves while handling these patients. Being single and male gender influenced nurses' comfort with vital signs and enema administration. Special orientation to include analysis of common tasks and procedures for new nurses assigned to AIDS units is suggested.

Attitude of health care workers to patients and colleagues infected with human immunodeficiency virus

“…Studies have documented negative attitudes to PLWHA in health care settings in Nigeria and elsewhere (Adelekan et al, 1995;Fido & Al Kamezi, 2002;Hentgen, Jaureguiberry, Ramiliarisoa, Andrianantoandro & Belec, 2002;Quach, Mayer, McGarvey, Lurie & Do, 2005;Reis et al, 2005). Physicians and nurses have been reported to be uncomfortable when administering medical procedures to HIV-infected patients (Oyeyemi, Oyeyemi & Bello, 2006;Oyeyemi, Oyeyemi & Bello, 2008), while in one study (Fransman, McCulloch, Lavies & Hussey, 2000) more than half of respondents were found to be reluctant to perform invasive procedures on HIV-infected children. Stigma and discrimination in the health care setting could jeopardise HIV prevention efforts and HIV care, especially if infected health care workers (HCWs) are unsupported.…”

Godfatherism and Democratic Reconstruction in Nigeria: A Review of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

“…With the benefit of hindsight, the limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those who they oppress (Douglass, 1882;Douglass, 2003;Oyeyemi, 2016). The Nigerian masses can pull a revolutionary surprise against the cabalistic godfathers just as the demos revolution against oppressive aristocratic Athenian city-state elite if they fail to allow the will of the people to prevail.…”