Improving outcomes in cancer diagnosis, prevention and control: barriers, facilitators and the need for health literacy in Ibadan Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Cancers constitute a significant public health problem in Nigeria. Breast, cervix and prostate cancers are leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Changing diets, lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and macro-structural factors contribute to cancer morbidity and mortality. Poor health information linking cancer risk to individual behaviors, environmental pollutants and structural barriers undermine prevention/control efforts. Studies suggest increasing health literacy and empowering individuals to take preventive action will improve outcomes and mitigate impact on a weak health system. METHODS: We obtained qualitative data from 80 men, women, and young adults in 11 focus groups to assess beliefs, risk-perceptions, preventive behaviors and perceptions of barriers and facilitators to cancer control in Ibadan, Nigeria and conducted thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated awareness of cancers and mentioned several risk factors related to individual behaviors and the environment. Nonetheless, myths and misconceptions as well as micro, meso and macro level barriers impede prevention and control efforts. CONCLUSION: Developing and implementing comprehensive context-relevant health literacy interventions in community settings are urgently needed.Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PREDICTORS OF WILLINGNESS TO TASK SHIFT AMONG FAMILY PLANNING PROVIDERS IN A SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIAN STATE.

BACKGROUND: Task shifting, the balanced reallocation of tasks usually from a higher cadre to a lower cadre among the health workforce team, has been proposed as a possible solution to the serious shortage of human resource in the health sector is being experienced in many developing countries. This study aimed to assess the views and experiences of nurses on task shifting in family planning services in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. METHODOS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 400 nurses with at least a year experience in providing family planning services at purposively selected tetiary, secondary and primary facilities in Ibadan was carried out using an intervieweradministered questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to determine association between categorical variables at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Mean age of the respondents was 41.1±8.7 years and 62% of the respondents were registered nurses/registered midwives. Although majority (91.5%) of the respondents were aware of the concept of task shifting, only 52.2% were willing to task shift family planning services to lower cadre staff and only 38.5% have actually task shifted family planning services to lower cadre staff. Age, educational status and awareness about task shifting were predictors of willingness to task shift family planning services. CONCLUSION: Older registered nurses or registered midwives who were aware of the concept of task shifting were more willing to task shift family planning services. Also, a combination of both awareness and willingness to task shift among married women enhances the practice of task shifting of family planning services.