Health Workers' Experience in Women Health Education During Attending Antenatal and Immunization Clinics in Aefutha Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Marcus, Amanda Ijeoma *
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Jovita Chukwu
College of Nursing Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebony State, Nigeria.
Blessing Onyemachi
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Women’s health education during antenatal and immunisation clinics is an important component of maternal and child health service delivery. Health workers are central to this process, yet their experiences in providing education within tertiary clinical settings require context-specific understanding.
Aim: This study explored health workers’ experiences in delivering women’s health education during antenatal and immunisation clinics at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 79 eligible health workers using a census approach, while qualitative data were obtained through key informant interviews conducted until saturation. Quantitative data were analysed using IBM SPSS Version 30, and qualitative data were analysed thematically with NVivo 15.
Results: Most respondents reported confidence and fulfilment in delivering women’s health education. Specifically, 51.3% strongly agreed and 27.6% agreed that they felt confident, while 48.7% strongly agreed and 39.5% agreed that they felt fulfilled. Reported challenges included heavy workload, staff shortages, low literacy among women, poor infrastructure, language barriers, limited teaching aids, non-conducive environments, and time constraints. Enabling factors included continuous training, positive feedback from women, and management recognition.
Conclusion: Health workers considered women’s health education meaningful and professionally rewarding; however, institutional and systemic constraints limited effective delivery. Improved infrastructure, adequate teaching materials, clear guidelines, supportive supervision, and continuous professional development are needed to strengthen women’s health education during antenatal and immunisation clinics.
Keywords: Women’s health education, antenatal care, immunisation clinics, health workers’ experiences, maternal health, health education delivery, staff shortages, teaching aids, tertiary hospital