ASSESS THE IMPACT OF UNPROFESSIONALISM OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN HANDLING SICK PATIENT IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1                        Background of the study

Health is seen as one of the most important services provided by the government and a significant proportion of the nation’s wealth is usually devoted to health particularly in developed countries. Worldwide there has been growing public concern regarding the ethical conduct of healthcare professionals. This is often manifested in complains about the poor ethical conduct of healthcare providers and the increasing use of litigation against healthcare practitioners in recent years ((Diyoke, 2015). Additionally the issue of adequate access to healthcare services is a policy concern. This is especially true for those living in rural areas of developing countries, which seem to have limited access to healthcare services. Also, access to healthcare varies across countries, groups, and individuals, and largely influenced by political, cultural, social, and institutional factors, Demographic and socioeconomic makeup. William and Torrens (2008) maintains that a country’s health services system is not just the result of that country’s social, political, and economic history, but also a reflection of that country’s values, culture, and shared beliefs about it. Again the delivery of modern healthcare depends on groups of trained professionals and paraprofessionals coming together as an interdisciplinary teams this includes professionals in medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, nursing, dentistry, midwifery and allied health, plus many others such as public health practitioners, community health workers and assistive personnel, who systematically provide personal and population-based preventive, curative and rehabilitative care services (Wikipedia, retrieved, June, 24th 2018). The implication is that globally Health care providers are facing challenges in balancing issues around ethics, economic efficiency, and access while organizing for and delivering services According to Nigeria Global Health Initiative Strategy (2011), Nigeria has one of the worst health indicators in the world regardless of being an oil rich country.

As the table 1 below can show, life expectancy at birth from 2009-2012 have ranged from 53-55 years, the probability of dying between 15-60years for both male and female ranged between 371/346 per 1000 population (WHO African Region: Nigeria, 2014). It can also be based on many factors (e.g. leadership, health delivery

services, just to name a few), which is primarily why am working on assessing the state of health care human resources in Nigeria.

According to Geography.about.com (2013a), the rate of birth is estimated to be about 56 births per 1000 populations, and the death rate is estimated to about 22 deaths per 1000 populations. Nigeria has a high prevalence of HIV infections which has an estimated prevalence rate of about 3.2% (adult population 15-49 years); number of people living with HIV is estimated to be 3.6million populations. Deaths due to

AIDS has been estimated to about 260,000 people (UNAIDS, 2013). Some of other most frequent health problems in Nigeria are malaria, high blood pressure, water and food-borne diseases among others (Geography.about.com, 2013b).

The health sector of Nigeria is going through a crisis in the area of human resources for health, with unequal distribution of health workers that are available and lack of basic training for the remaining ones. No country can thrive in the health sector without a competent health workforce. In the developed countries, there are adequate and competent health workers with sophisticated technologies which make their work easy. The work environment is also conducive enough for them and government makes adequate policies to make sure they lack nothing.

Emphasis will be based on  the impact of unprofessional-ism of medical practitioners in handling sick patient in Nigerian hospitals. and why private agencies can’t do enough to help improve the current health situation in the country.

Assessing the health care system in Nigeria especially the health workforce will be helpful in determining how far the government and other health professional bodies have gone in improving the health status of Nigerians and how it can be better improved.

1.2                        Statement of research problem

The shortage in health care personnel has  been attributed to working condition of service of the professionals which is responsible for their poor attitude reactions to care recievers.the issue of not enough work instrument, not enough bed in the wards, these among many are what the researcher will look into in this study.

1.3                        Objectives of the study

The primary objective of this study is as follows:

To investigate the impact of unprofessionalism of medical practitioners in handling sick patient in nigerian hospitals.

To find out if there are enough hospital equipment for medical professionals

To find out if the environment they work in is convenient with necessary amenities

To find out ways medical professional can improve the quality of services rendered to sick patients.

1.4                        Research questions

Do unprofessionalism of medical practitioners affect sick patients in Nigerian hospital?

Do you think there are enough medical equipment for health workers?

Do you think the environment medical practioners work in is convenient?

Do u think medical professionals can improve on the quality of the service they render?

1.5                        Significance of the study

The significance of this study cannot be underestimated as:

l  This study will assess  the impact of unprofessionalism of medical practitioners in handling sick patient in Nigerian hospitals.

l  The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government organizations, ministry of health, individuals, NGOS, and academia

1.6                        Scope of the study

This study intends to assess the impact of unprofessionalism of medical practitioners in handling sick patients in Nigerian hospitals.  Hence, this study is delimited to state specialist hospital in Akure south local government. Ondo state . and as such will be used as a case study.

1.7                        Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 Financial constraint is inevitable considering the present economic situations. Due to lack of finance at the researchers disposal to get materials and in printing of questionnaires. it was not possible to visit some of the police stations and some of the victims of corruption.

 In developing countries like Nigeria, there is the problem of insufficient data.

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher   

1.8                        Operational definition of terms

Impact :the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another

Unprofessionalism: not pertaining to a profession

Medical practitioner:this is a person who is skilled in the science of medicine.

Patients: this is a person who receives medical care .