Ibrahim Suleiman
Population Council, Nigeria
Title: Frontline health workers profiling of Maternal and New-Born Care (MNCH) Burden in local Communities in Nigeria: A case study of Bauchi and cross River State
Biography
Biography: Ibrahim Suleiman
Abstract
Introduction: Women and Children are faced with a huge disease burden in local communities where frontline Health workers (FLHWs) deliver Maternal, Newborn and Child health services.
Objective: To find out about the disease burden with a view to designing appropriate interventions towards empowering FLHWs to respond to the situation.
Methodology: A house hold survey was conducted among 1,548 respondents in selected LGAs of Bauchi and Cross River States, as part of a need assessment that took place in host communities. The data was analyzed using SPSS software.
Result: Reported illnesses among women were “diseases” (Bauchi: 20.9%; CRS: 8.4%), Eclampsia (Bauchi: 5.2%; CRS: 0.2%), 41.4% were treated in PHCs and 33.3% in Chemists with recovery rates (Bauchi, 54.2%; CRS 51.2%) and reported client satisfaction (Bauchi: 91.5%; CRS: 69.4%). Newborn and Under-fives mainly suffered from watery stool (Bauchi: 36.5%; CRS: 10.9%), treated at PHC (Bauchi: 22.4%; CRS: 18.5%) and responded to treatment (Bauchi: 29.8%; Cross River: 33.2%). and to household satisfaction (Bauchi 55.6%, CRS 39.3%). For under-fives’ illnesses reported included fever (Bauchi: 55.6%; CRS: 49.8%), cough with catarrh (Bauchi: 24.8%; CRS: 37.0%) and watery stool (Bauchi: 17.8%; CRS: 10.8%) with treatment occurring in PHCs (Bauchi: 29.5%) and patent medicine vendors (CRS: 28.3%). Successfully treated under-fives (CRS: 56.2%; Bauchi: 40.6%) to household satisfaction (Bauchi 66.2% CRS 62.4%). Deaths occurred among Women 64% (Bauchi: 53.1%: CRS: 46.9%), due to “wish of God” (Bauchi: 38.2%), “diseases” (CRS: 46.7%), inadequate FLHW care in (Bauchi 41.2%) and ‘spiritual attacks’ (CRS 73.3%). Newborns and Under-Fives died 79% (Bauchi 67.1% CRS 32.9%) from unknown causes (Bauchi: 41.5%; CRS: 30.8%) and ‘wish of God’ (Bauchi, 88.7%; CRS 38.5%).
Conclusion: Knowledge of household disease burden and perception of the causes of death will help in designing effective interventions for FLHWs to mitigate maternal and child health related diseases.
Key words: Frontline health workers, MNCH, Disease Burden, Bauchi, Cross River State, Nigeria