FACULTY OF NURSING SCIENCES

Despite the availability and effectiveness of vasectomy as a permanent method of male contraception, its acceptance remains low in many developing countries, including Nigeria. Misconceptions, cultural norms, and religious beliefs significantly hinder its uptake. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 278 male staff across different departments of UBTH. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the results. The study revealed that only 41% of respondents had good knowledge of vasectomy, with a
grand mean score of 1.4, indicating a generally poor understanding. Attitudes were predominantly negative, with 56% expressing unfavourable views and a mean attitude score of 2.1. Acceptance of vasectomy was also low, as only 38% indicated willingness to consider the procedure. Cultural and religious beliefs, fear of complications, perceived threats to masculinity, and misinformation about the procedure were identified as major barriers to acceptance. Despite working in a healthcare setting, many respondents held misconceptions about vasectomy’s effects on sexual performance and health. The study found poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and low acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at UBTH. These findings underscore the persistence of cultural, religious, and psychological barriers even within educated, medically-inclined populations. Targeted health education interventions are urgently needed to dispel myths, address cultural concerns, and promote accurate information about vasectomy among healthcare workers. Empowering male staff with correct knowledge could enhance their role as advocates for male involvement in family planning.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude towards research conduct among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City. A total of 282 students participated in the study, which employed a descriptive cross-sectional design using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis, including chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. The results revealed that while 45.0% of students demonstrated good knowledge of research conduct, a combined 55.0% exhibited fair to poor knowledge. In terms of attitude, 73.0% showed a positive disposition toward research engagement, while 27.0% expressed negative attitudes. Notable barriers identified included limited access to research materials (76.3%), time constraints (76.9%), and a lack of mentorship (78.0%). Statistical analysis indicated a significant positive association between research knowledge and attitudes (p < 0.001). Students with greater knowledge were more likely to express positive attitudes toward research. The study recommends strengthening the research component of the nursing curriculum, expanding access to research tools and databases, and implementing structured mentorship initiatives. Creating supportive research environments is also essential to promote active participation. These findings offer valuable insights for nursing educators and academic institutions seeking to cultivate a robust research culture among undergraduate nursing students.

Standard precautions are essential infection control practices that protect both healthcare workers and patients from the transmission of infectious diseases. Compliance with these precautions is particularly critical for nursing students, who are frequently exposed to clinical environments during their training. This study assessed the knowledge and compliance with standard precautions among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A total of 249 undergraduate nursing students from 200 to 500 levels were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and mean scores were used, and a chi-square test was employed to assess the relationship between knowledge and compliance levels. Out of 249 questionnaires distributed, 246 were valid for analysis, resulting in a response rate of 98.8%. Findings revealed that 70.7% of students demonstrated good knowledge of standard precautions, while 29.3% had poor knowledge. Regarding compliance, 77% exhibited high compliance, and 23% showed low compliance. The major barriers identified were lack of personal protective equipment (mean = 3.2), time pressure in clinical settings, insufficient supervision, and inadequate training. Hypothesis testing revealed no statistically significant relationship between knowledge and compliance (χ² = 2.703, p = 0.100). The study concluded that undergraduate nursing students generally possess good knowledge and demonstrate high compliance with standard precautions. However, knowledge alone does not guarantee compliance, as external factors such as resource availability and supervision play significant roles.It is recommended that continuous training programs, improved resource provision, and closer clinical supervision be instituted to enhance adherence to standard precautions among nursing students, thereby strengthening infection control practices within
healthcare settings.

Patient bullying behavior and mistreatment have emerged as significant concerns in healthcare settings, with serious implications for nurses’ mental health and job performance. This study examined the impact of such negative patient behaviors on nurses working in selected wards at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from83nurses using structured questionnaires. Findings indicated a high prevalence of patient-initiated mistreatment, including verbal abuse (98.3%), threats (80.1%), sexual harassment
(69%), and physical assault (54.5%). Contributing factors identified included prolonged patient waiting times, understaffing, ineffective communication, unmet expectations, and inadequate hospital security. The study revealed that bullying and mistreatment from patients significantly affected nurses’ mental health, motivation, job performance, and their ability to deliver high-quality care. Despite the frequent occurrences, many nurses did not report these incidents. Participants emphasized the need for ef ective interventions such as conflict resolution training, increased staffing, enhanced security measures, access to psychological support, and improved communication with patients. The study concludes that patient
Bullying and mistreatment pose a serious threat to nurses’ well-being and job ef ectiveness, and calls for immediate attention from hospital administrators and policymakers toimplement comprehensive strategies for a safer and more supportive work environment

This study assessed the burden of care as a predictor of quality of life among care givers of hypertensive patients attending a tertiary health facility in Benin City, Edo State. A crosssectional survey was conducted with 195 caregiver-patient pairs with data collected using structured questionnaires, the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) instrument that a sessed their demographic characteristics, burden of care among caregivers, health realted quality of life (HRQoL) of caregivers and hypertensive patients, and the factors associated with burden of care among caregivers. The findings revealed that about 56.4% of caregivers experienced a high level of burden, with a mean ZBI score of 44.07 (SD = 6.30), and 13.8% reported severe burden. Moreso, having no formal education (compared to tertiary education) was associated with significantly lower odds of experiencing a higher burden of care (OR = 0.362, 95% CI [0.148, 0.885], p = 0.026). Furthermore, caregivers who desired to continue caregiving (compared to not desiring to continue) were significantly more likely to report a high burden of care (OR = 2.431, 95% CI [1.297, 4.556], p = 0.006). Additionally, multivariate analysis examining the relationship between quality of life domains and the likelihood of experiencing a high burden of care revealed that reporting a low psychological quality of life (compared to high psychological QoL) significantly increased the odds of high burden (OR = 6.474, 95% CI [1.369, 30.616], p = 0.018), and reporting a low environmental quality of life (compared to high environmental QoL) also significantly increased the odds of high burden (OR = 6.168, 95% CI [1.069, 35.596], p = 0.042). However, the study concluded on the need for targeted caregiver education, psychosocial support, and strategies to improve patient adherence to mitigate caregiver burden and enhance their quality of life.

Despite the availability and effectiveness of vasectomy as a permanent method of male contraception, its acceptance remains low in many developing countries, including Nigeria. Misconceptions, cultural norms, and religious beliefs significantly hinder its uptake. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 278 male staff across different departments of UBTH. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the results. The study revealed that only 41% of respondents had good knowledge of vasectomy, with a grand mean score of 1.4, indicating a generally poor understanding. Attitudes were predominantly negative, with 56% expressing unfavourable views and a mean attitude score of 2.1. Acceptance of vasectomy was also low, as only 38% indicated willingness to consider the procedure. Cultural and religious beliefs, fear of complications, perceived threats to masculinity, and misinformation about the procedure were identified as major barriers to acceptance. Despite working in a healthcare setting, many respondents held misconceptions about vasectomy’s effects on sexual performance and health. The study found poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and low acceptance of vasectomy among male staff at UBTH. These findings underscore the persistence of cultural, religious, and psychological barriers even within educated, medically-inclined populations. Targeted health education interventions are urgently needed to dispel myths, address cultural concerns, and promote accurate information about vasectomy among healthcare workers. Empowering male staff with correct knowledge could enhance their role as advocates for male involvement in family planning

Healthcare waste management is a critical issue in healthcare settings, with implications for infection control, environmental safety, andpublic health. This study investigated the knowledge,attitudes, andpractices ofhealthcare waste management among undergraduate nursing students in a tertiary educational institution in Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. random sampling technique was used to select 255 undergraduate nursing students across 200-500 levels. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with four sections examining socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to healthcare waste management. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were generated, and hypothesis testing was performed using chi-square analysis at a significance level of0.05. The study achieved a 97% response rate (247 valid questionnaires). Findings revealed that 68% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge ofhealthcare waste management, while 32% exhibitedpoor knowledge. Regarding attitudes, 71% displayedpositive dispositions toward healthcare waste management practices. In terms of practice, 77%demonstrated high levels ofproper healthcare waste handling and disposal. The study identified several influential factors, including adequate training programs, availability of disposal facilities, supervision, andpersonal commitment. Notably, no statistically significant relationship wasfound between knowledge andpractice x2 = 2.101, p = 0.07). While the majority of undergraduate nursing students demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes,and high compliance with proper waste management practices, significant gaps remain,particularly in specific knowledge areas and the translation ofknowledge intopractice.

Workplace abuse of nurses by patients and their relatives is a growing concern, affecting job performance, mental health, and overall well-being. This study assessed the factors influencing the abuse of nurses at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ugbowo, Benin City. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and contributing factors of abuse experienced by nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 258 nurses selected through a stratified sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, and 251 responses were deemed valid, giving a response rate of 97.2%. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, with results presented in tables and figures. The study found that verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse, experienced by 71% of respondents. Other reported forms of abuse included emotional distress (59%), workplace bullying (53%), and rude or dismissive behavior (66%). Physical assault (37%), unwanted sexual harassment (42%), and stalking (31%) were less frequently reported. Factors contributing to abuse included patient frustration due to delayed medical attention (mean = 3.1), lack of understanding of hospital policies (mean = 3.0), and emotional distress of patient relatives (mean = 3.2). Patients with psychiatric conditions, those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and those with severe pain were more likely to abuse nurses. Abuse of nurses in UBTH is prevalent, with verbal and emotional abuse being the most reported. Factors such as patient frustration, unrealistic expectations, and poor communication contribute to these incidents. There is a need for hospital management to implement stricter policies against abuse, provide conflict resolution training for nurses, and improve communication between healthcare workers and patients’ relatives. Additionally, security measures should be strengthened to ensure a safer work environment for nurses.

The dietary habits of students can have a profound impact on their academic performance, particularly in demanding fields such as nursing. With the growing awareness of nutrition's rolein cognitive function and academic success, this study examined the perceived influenceofdietary habits on the academic performance among nursing students at the University of Benin. The purpose of the study was to assess the dietary patterns of nursing students and determinehow these habits relate to their academic performance. A descriptive cross-sectional designwasadopted. The population comprised nursing students from 200 to 500 level, excluding 100level students. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, and analyzedusing descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the majority of respondents, 242 (85.5%), had good dietary habits, while 40 (14.2%) reported poor dietary habits. In termsofacademic performance, 269 (95.4%) had good performance and only 13 (4.6%) hadpoorperformance. A statistically significant association was observed between dietary habits andacademic performance (p < 0.001), indicating that students with better dietary habits weremorelikely to perform well academically.In conclusion, the study highlights a positive relationshipbetween healthy dietary habits and academic success among nursing students. It is recommendedthat nutrition education and awareness be incorporated into student support programs to promotebetter eating habits and, by extension, improve academic outcomes

Healthcare-associated infections remain a persistent challenge globally, particularly in developing countries where resource constraints often hinder adherence to infection control protocols. This study investigates the knowledge, attitude, and practice of standard precautions among healthcare workers in selected clinics within Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The primary aim was to assess how well-informed healthcare workers are about standard precautions, their perceptions toward infection control, and how these translate into practical behaviors. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, with data collected from 150 healthcare workers using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Key variables assessed included knowledge of hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE), attitude toward routine precautions, actual implementation of infection control measures, and factors influencing compliance, including management support and availability of resources. The results revealed that while most healthcare workers exhibited good knowledge and positive attitudes toward standard precautions, there were variations in actual practice, especially concerning
equipment decontamination and workload-related compliance barriers. Notably, 88.7% regularly practiced hand hygiene, while only 60% consistently decontaminated reusable instruments. Availability of PPE and institutional support emerged as significant factors influencing adherence. The study recommends strengthening continuous training programs, improving PPE supply chains, and enhancing management engagement to sustain high compliance levels. These strategies are essential to improve healthcare safety and reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infections.