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Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Received: 31 October 2024     Accepted: 18 November 2024     Published: 29 November 2024
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Abstract

Introduction: Efforts have been made to improve maternal and child health care globally, with a focus on promoting postnatal care for mothers and babies. In spite of the known significance of postnatal visits for enhancing maternal and child health care, concerns still exist regarding maternal and infant health care in the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole. The study aimed to explore and describe the challenges experienced by community health nurses that may have an impact on postnatal home visitation in selected districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Method: Qualitative research method was used to collect data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using 15 CHNs. Data were analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. Results: Two main themes and six categories emerged from the overall analysis of the data from the CHNs. One theme emerged based on the objective of the study and the other theme emerged based on the analysis of the responses of the participants. Themes emerged include: challenges of postnatal home visitation and preparation for and responsibilities during postnatal visits. Conclusion: The study concludes that postnatal home visits face significant challenges due to institutional limitations, socio-cultural barriers, and mother-related issues, which can hinder effective care. Additionally, community health nurses (CHNs) strive to provide essential services through preparation, skills application, and ongoing education.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 12, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13
Page(s) 194-200
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Community Health Nurse, Maternal and Child Health, Post-Natal Home Visitation

References
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[2] Alkema, L., Chou, D., Gemmill, A., Hogan, D., Moller, A.-B., Temmerman, M.,... Zhang, S. (2016). Global, regional, and national levels and trends in maternal mortality between 1990 and 2015, with scenario-based projections to 2030: A systematic analysis by the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group. The Lancet, 387(10017), 462–474.
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  • APA Style

    Agyeman-Duah, Y., Bimerew, M. (2024). Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Science Journal of Public Health, 12(6), 194-200. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13

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    ACS Style

    Agyeman-Duah, Y.; Bimerew, M. Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Sci. J. Public Health 2024, 12(6), 194-200. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13

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    AMA Style

    Agyeman-Duah Y, Bimerew M. Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Sci J Public Health. 2024;12(6):194-200. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13,
      author = {Yvonne Agyeman-Duah and Million Bimerew},
      title = {Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana
    },
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {12},
      number = {6},
      pages = {194-200},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20241206.13},
      abstract = {Introduction: Efforts have been made to improve maternal and child health care globally, with a focus on promoting postnatal care for mothers and babies. In spite of the known significance of postnatal visits for enhancing maternal and child health care, concerns still exist regarding maternal and infant health care in the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole. The study aimed to explore and describe the challenges experienced by community health nurses that may have an impact on postnatal home visitation in selected districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Method: Qualitative research method was used to collect data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using 15 CHNs. Data were analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. Results: Two main themes and six categories emerged from the overall analysis of the data from the CHNs. One theme emerged based on the objective of the study and the other theme emerged based on the analysis of the responses of the participants. Themes emerged include: challenges of postnatal home visitation and preparation for and responsibilities during postnatal visits. Conclusion: The study concludes that postnatal home visits face significant challenges due to institutional limitations, socio-cultural barriers, and mother-related issues, which can hinder effective care. Additionally, community health nurses (CHNs) strive to provide essential services through preparation, skills application, and ongoing education.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Challenges of Community Health Nurses During Postnatal Home Visitation in Selected Districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana
    
    AU  - Yvonne Agyeman-Duah
    AU  - Million Bimerew
    Y1  - 2024/11/29
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 194
    EP  - 200
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20241206.13
    AB  - Introduction: Efforts have been made to improve maternal and child health care globally, with a focus on promoting postnatal care for mothers and babies. In spite of the known significance of postnatal visits for enhancing maternal and child health care, concerns still exist regarding maternal and infant health care in the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole. The study aimed to explore and describe the challenges experienced by community health nurses that may have an impact on postnatal home visitation in selected districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Method: Qualitative research method was used to collect data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using 15 CHNs. Data were analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. Results: Two main themes and six categories emerged from the overall analysis of the data from the CHNs. One theme emerged based on the objective of the study and the other theme emerged based on the analysis of the responses of the participants. Themes emerged include: challenges of postnatal home visitation and preparation for and responsibilities during postnatal visits. Conclusion: The study concludes that postnatal home visits face significant challenges due to institutional limitations, socio-cultural barriers, and mother-related issues, which can hinder effective care. Additionally, community health nurses (CHNs) strive to provide essential services through preparation, skills application, and ongoing education.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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