Challenges and Coping Strategies of Student Nursing Mothers in University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rigor of combining motherhood with education poses great challenge to student nursing mothers (SNMs). This study identified the challenges experienced by the SNMs and determined the factors associated with the challenges experienced in University of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria. This study utilized a nonprobability sampling technique of snowballing. Responses were elicited from 250 consenting SNMs using the pretested semistructured questionnaire. The SNM challenges were measured on 15-point scale. Challenges scores were classified as moderate (≤9) and severe (≥10). The mean age of the SNMs was 29.5 ± 2.8 years. Majority of the respondents (70.0%) reported facing severe challenges which included economic, childcare, and academic challenges (43.2%, 37.2%, and 24.8%, respectively). χ2 test showed significant associations between ages, course of study, and level of study of the SNMs (χ2 = 10.520, p = .005; χ2 = 14.934, p = .002; and χ2 = 9.523, p = .002, respectively) and the overall challenges experienced. Research findings reveal that childhood health problems occurred mostly among SNMs having problems breastfeeding their babies.

Navigating Student Motherhood in a Precarious Urban Context: Perspectives from Higher Education in Uganda

“…The research findings show that student mothers who are poor urban dwellers face various challenges including financial and time constraints which interfere with their education. This is consistent with the findings of research by Anibijuwon and Esimai (2020), which identified various problems faced by student mothers though their study was not focused on poor urban areas. On the contrary, this study demonstrates that the challenges faced by student mothers living in urban poverty differ from those of other student mothers living in regular neighborhoods who can access social services such as water, health care, education, and descent housing.…”

“…According to Chevalier and Viitanen (2001), teenage motherhood has long-term consequences on the career development of young mothers and hence may perpetuate the transmission of poverty from generation to generation. Although Anibijuwon and Esimai (2020) contend that student mothers in universities halted their studies in order to first resolve their various challenges, this was not an experience shared by participants of this study despite the economic hardships that characterize the poor urban neighborhoods. A possible explanation for these findings may be that their experiences enabled them to gain the self-determination (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and motivation to pursue their goals to the end.…”

“…Apart from urban marginality, this is a context in which higher education by default excludes student mothers. Moreover, some previous studies looked at student mothers from a single university (e.g., Anibijuwon & Esimai, 2020; Maisela & Ross, 2018; Ngum, 2011), and therefore their analyses lack the nuances of experiences of students from a variety of institutions.…”

“…While Obanya (2009) shows that girls who drop out of school in Africa are unlikely to pursue college education, another study by Anibijuwon and Esimai (2020) on student mothers in Ibadan University explored challenges of student mothers through a more general lens. The challenges identified include financial constraints, time limitations, and subsequently poor academic performance.…”

Factores socioeconómicos y rendimiento académico en estudiantes de enfermería. Revisión bibliográfica integrativa

“…Los padres con niveles educativos más altos tendían realizar un rol de acompañamiento, retroalimentación, estando pendientes de la vida estudiantil y el desempeño académico. (3,22) Heidari,et al, (11) Anibijuwon et al (14) y Rodríguez-García et al (15) explican como el apoyo familiar influye en el éxito del aprendizaje en los futuros profesionales de enfermería. Los educandos con sobrecarga percibida a consecuencia de obligaciones familiares pueden tener menor rendimiento académico.…”