Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women with gynecological cancers attending teaching hospitals in Ekiti State. Methodology: A qualitative research design was used using a phenomenological method. Twenty women with gynecological cancers were recruited for the study using purposive sampling. The research instrument was a structured interview guide. The interviews were conducted once and recorded using a digital voice recorder and basic demographic information of respondents was obtained after each interview. The interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and major themes emerged from the study, while the demographic information was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Results from this study identified nine major themes which include ignoring the initial warning signs, reliance on unprofessional help and spiritual interventions, feeling of uncertainty and sense of vulnerability, bodily changes and altered body image, the burden of chemotherapy, financial hardship, counting the losses, dealing with community and family-based stigma and then cancer as a spiritual attack. This study therefore recommends the need to address individual perceptions about the causes of gynecological cancers as well as the need to draw a supportive intervention by the government for affected persons.

Background/Aims An evaluation of patient satisfaction of the quality of healthcare facilities and services provides feedback to enhance improved service delivery. Patient satisfaction with care has been identified as one of the essential elements of quality care, which can be used to determine the quality of care being rendered in health centres. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with maternal and child services in health facilities in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in all seven secondary health facilities and 45 selected primary healthcare centres. A total of 330 nursing mothers with babies aged 0–1 years old were selected through simple random sampling. A self-developed, structured, pre-tested satisfaction survey based on Donabedian and Linder-Pelz satisfaction model was used to explore nursing mothers' satisfaction with maternal and child healthcare services and the determinants of satisfaction. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and t-tests at a significance level of 0.05. Ordered logistic regression was used to establish the significance of association between sociodemographic characteristics and satisfaction. Results The majority of clients were satisfied with maternal and child services in primary (76.7%) and secondary (55.1%) healthcare facilities, respectively. There was a significant difference between satisfaction at primary and secondary healthcare centres (P=0.012). The marital status and number of pregnancies of participants were significant determinants of clients' satisfaction with secondary healthcare facilities (P=0.035 and P=0.013, respectively). Conclusions There is high patient satisfaction with maternal and child healthcare services in both primary and secondary healthcare facilities in Ile-Ife. The majority of the health facilities have inadequate personnel for maternal and child healthcare services, which is one of the major factors contributing to high maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. However, many of the respondents may not have ever experienced high-quality services. Stakeholders in maternal and child services should improve on areas where poor satisfaction was reported.

Background: Non-pneumatic Anti-shock garment (NASG) has been identified as a device for effective management of postpartum haemorrhage especially in developing countries where maternal mortality is high. Hence, it is important that midwives are skilled and knowledgeable about its use. This study therefore assessed the midwives’ skills in the application of Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) in the management of postpartum hemorrhage.Methods: This study adopted quasi-experimental research design. The study was done in two secondary health facilities in the state. Sixty-eight midwives participated in the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 37 and 31 midwives into experimental and control groups respectively. Written consent was obtained from all the participants. The study involved three stages; Pre-test, an intervention and a post test. Questionnaire and observation rating scale that elicited demographic characteristics, knowledge and skills on the application and removal of NASG was used to collect data pre and post intervention. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Mean knowledge score of midwives in the control group in the use of NASG in the management of PPH was found to be 10.32±4.17 compared with 12.24±5.05 in experimental group pre-intervention. There was a significant increase in knowledge and skills of NASG application, nonetheless the post intervention from experimental group had the highest increase from 6.32±4.97 to 17.14±0.95.Conclusions: Educational intervention enhanced skills of midwives in the use of NASG. Therefore, continuous education units in hospitals should include periodic training of midwives on the use of NASG.

Introduction: despite large investments in maternal health services in the world, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major cause of maternal mortality. Misoprostol is the most available, accessible, and affordable uterotonic agent in the management of the third stage of labor and has been found to be effective in PPH prevention in low-income countries. This study, therefore, assessed the influence of nursing interventions improving midwives´ awareness of misoprostol use in the management of PPH at selected health facilities. Methods: we conducted a quasi-experimental study in two secondary health institutions in Ondo State. A total of 68 midwives, who consented to participate, were randomly distributed into experimental and control groups respectively. A questionnaire was administered for obtaining information about participants´ knowledge and use of misoprostol in the management of PPH. Midwives in the intervention group were trained using the adapted Pathfinder International Teaching Package on the use of misoprostol in the management of PPH. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: in the pre-intervention phase, the mean knowledge score of the control group was 7.55 ± 2.57 while that of the experimental group was 8.89 ± 2.57. There was a significant increase in the number of participants knowing the correct dose of misoprostol for the management of PPH after intervention (27.0% vs 81.1% p=0.01). After intervention, there was a significant increase (p=0.01) in knowledge of misoprostol use in the intervention group compared to the control group (14.73 ± 2.57 vs 8.89 ± 2.57). Conclusion: misoprostol educational intervention was effective in improving knowledge and use of misoprostol. Hence, continuing educational units in hospitals should include periodic training of midwives on the use of misoprostol in PPH prevention.

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