Risk factors to mental health challenges among the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana.

BACKGROUND:  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and other gender diverse groupings symbolised by + (LGBTI+) individuals experience adverse mental health problems, and several factors have been documented to facilitate such problems. However, in Botswana, the factors facilitating LGBTI+ individuals to experience mental health challenges have not been explored with previous studies only highlighting the poor mental health outcomes they experience. OBJECTIVES:  The aim of the study was to explore and describe factors that could cause mental health challenges in LGBTI+ individuals in Gaborone, Botswana. METHOD:  A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological design was employed to examine the research question. In data collection, 15 unstructured in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted until data saturation. Data were analysed with a co-coder using the data analysis method by Colaizzi. RESULTS:  Three themes emerged following data analysis and were reasons for experiencing mental health challenges, experiences of challenges in accessing healthcare services and the social challenges of everyday life. CONCLUSION:  The findings indicate that a variety of factors influence the mental health problems in some LGBTI+ individuals.Contribution: The knowledge of the factors that cause LGBTI+ individuals' mental health challenges can inform mental healthcare to be rendered. The findings can apprise nursing curriculum development and policy regarding the needs of LGBTI+ individuals.

Coping mechanisms used by caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans in North West province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND:  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a pandemic that has affected families and left many children orphaned worldwide. After the death of their parents, HIV/AIDS orphans are often taken care of by caregivers who are faced with overwhelming challenges that affect their capabilities to perform caring tasks. It has been reported that caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans use different coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges faced during caring. Coping mechanisms play an integral role in maintaining individuals' physical and mental well-being, particularly those caring for orphans. This study explored coping mechanisms used by caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans. METHODS:  A qualitative design was adopted, and individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 13 caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans in North West province. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Rigor was maintained throughout the study. RESULTS:  Three main themes were identified with eight subthemes. The first theme includes support from significant others, and subthemes are family support, neighbour support, and life partner support. The second main theme emerged from this study was religious practices and two subthemes namely singing gospel songs and using prayer to cope. The third main theme identified includes the use of social support services, and subthemes were government support, support from local schools, and stokvels and social clubs. CONCLUSION:  The identified coping mechanisms in this study improved caregiving skills of caregivers to better care for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Mental health challenges experienced by LGBTI+ community in Gaborone: A phenomenological study.

Background: Mental health challenges have affected the entire global population including individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and others (LGBTI+). There is documented evidence of a high prevalence of mental health challenges among LGBTI+ community across the globe, but in Botswana there is dearth of literature pertaining to the phenomenon of LGBTI+ mental health challenges. Aim: The study was aimed at exploring and describing the mental health challenges experienced by some people identifying as the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana. Setting: The study was conducted in Gaborone in Botswana. Methods: The study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive design with 15 participants identified through snowball sampling. LEGABIBO, the LGBTI+ advocacy organisation, served as gatekeeper after Health Research and Development Division under the Ministry of Health and Wellness gave the ethical clearance of the study. Data were collected through unstructured telephonic interviews and recorded with a digital voice recorder. Results: The study established that some LGBTI+ individuals experienced mental health challenges like experiences of depression, experiences of gender dysphoria, and loneliness and isolation. Conclusion: It is concluded that individuals identifying as LGBTI+ experience mental health challenges that stem from being stigmatised and discriminated among others. Contribution: The findings of the study provide information that may be used in dealing with mental health issues of individuals identifying as LGBTI+. Furthermore, the findings may inform nursing practice, research and education issues on LGBTI+ as well as influence health policy in addressing the mental health issues of those identifying as LGBTI+.

Challenges Regarding Transition from Case-Based Learning to Problem-Based Learning: A Qualitative Study with Student Nurses.

BACKGROUND: The transition from case-based learning to problem-based learning can be challenging and may have negative effects on the academic, psychological, emotional, or social well-being of student nurses. As a result, this exposes student nurses to high failure rates, anxiety disorders, a loss of uniqueness, and fear of the unknown. However, student nurses employ different strategies aimed at overcoming challenges faced during this transition period. METHODS: An exploratory, and descriptive research approach was used. A purposive non-probability sampling technique was used to select participants. Focus group discussions via Zoom video communication were used to collect data, which were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six steps of thematic analysis. RESULTS: The following three themes emerged: challenges regarding facilitation, challenges regarding assessment, and strategies to overcome challenges. CONCLUSIONS: The study established that student nurses are faced with different challenges during the transition from one teaching strategy to another. Student nurses suggested strategies that could be used to overcome these challenges. However, these strategies are not enough and therefore more needs to be done to support and empower student nurses.

Recommendations for online learning challenges in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND:  Nursing education institutions have had to change from face-to-face to online learning because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The online learning mode, however, had several challenges. OBJECTIVES:  To explore and describe recommendations made to address the online learning challenges in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD:  This study adopted a narrative literature review to achieve its objectives. The search for the relevant literature used Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, African Journal (previously SAePublications), EBSCOhost, EBSCO Discovery Service and Scopus databases. RESULTS:  There were four findings identified from the literature search: provision of adequate resources, monitoring of academic dishonesty, provision of technical support and revision of the curriculum. CONCLUSION:  More work in nursing education is necessary to address the challenges of adopting online learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the issues of online learning in nursing education, thorough preparations and safeguards are necessary.Contribution: The outcomes of this study will benefit nursing education by incorporating recommendations from many studies to overcome online learning issues in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative literature review.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is understandable that nurses are working under stressful conditions. A successful use of effective coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic will help nurses to manage stressful conditions. AIM: The objective of this narrative literature review was to explore and describe the coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. SETTING: This study was conducted from all available literature related to the coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic globally. METHODS: A narrative literature review was conducted to answer researchers' concern of coping strategies used by nurses during COVID-19. The purposive sampling technique was used to select three online databases that were used to search for the relevant literature, namely Google Scholar, Science Direct and African Journals (formerly SAePublications). Search terms used to conduct this study include coping, coping strategies, nurses, nursing and COVID-19 pandemic. This study included English studies focusing on coping strategies used by nurses during COVID-19 published between 2019 and 2021. The study excluded newspaper articles, conference reports and other databases not mentioned in this study. RESULTS: The findings identified the following strategies: use of COVID-19 protective measures, avoidance strategy, social support, faith-based practices, psychological support and management support are used by nurses as coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The use of the identified coping strategies by nurses may reduce stress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations were made for future research, nursing education and practice. CONTRIBUTION: This is the first narrative literature review focusing on the coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this narrative literature review provide insight that may be used by nurses of all categories to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.