Cultural competence and associated factors among nurses working in public health institutions in the Assosa zone, Benishangul Gumuz regional state, Ethiopia, 2022

BACKGROUND

Cultural competence is one of the principal foundations of clinical nursing. In Ethiopia, nurses in nursing care still focus more on physical needs, the healing process, and treatment and less on the cultural aspects of the patient.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the cultural competence and associated factors among nurses working in public health institutions found in the Assosa Zone, West Ethiopia, in 2022.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 362 nurses who were selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected using a structured, self-administered English version of the Nurse Cultural Competence Scale Questionnaire for Nurses. The data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors statistically significantly associated with the cultural competence of nurses at a p-value < 0.05.

RESULT

Overall The mean score of cultural competence of participants was 113 (CI, 111.7-115.7), with a mean item score of 3.2 (CI, 3.15-3.26). Nurse-to-patient ratio (B;.93, CI;.59_1.3), experience with previously working in a primary hospital than the current health institution (B; -11.1, CI; -18_-4.2), and experience with previously working in a health center than the current health institution (B; -11.5, C;-18.5_-4.8), being diploma education level (B; -23.2, CL;-32_-14.8), being BSC education level (B;-20.3, CI;-28_-12.3), and the presence of a feedback system in a health facility (B; 13.5, CI; 9.5_17.5) were identified as predicted factors of cultural competences.

CONCLUSION

The overall mean score of the cultural competencies of the participants was moderate. To improve the cultural competence of nurses, it is typically necessary to provide educational opportunities to raise their educational level and establish a feedback system in all health institutions across the nation.

Survival Analysis of Calves and Reproductive Performance of Cows in Commercial Dairy Farms in and Around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A study was conducted at five locations to determine the survival rate of calves and to estimate the performance level of improved dairy cows under commercialized farming systems in Ethiopia. Seven hundred and one calves born from 1997 to 1999, and 797 cows were included in the study. Cumulative calf/heifer survival at 360, 540 and 720 days was 80%, 76% and 70%, respectively. Number of services per conception averaged 2 while mean age at first service and days open were 850+/-18 and 192+/-11 days, respectively. Calf survival, days open and age at first service were significantly affected by breed and management factors (p <0.05), whereas parity significantly affected the number of services per conception and days open. There was a tendency towards improved performance over the years. This was especially so for calf survival and days open. Clearly, all the traits measured varied among study farms, indicating that substantial improvement can be achieved through better management. This paper describes these individual traits of improved dairy breeds under commercialized farming systems in Ethiopia.

Status of expanded program on immunization in a rural town--south Ethiopia

A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a randomly selected kebele of Zway town, eastern Shoa, Kilil 4, to assess the status of expanded program of immunization. A total of 309 children aged 12-23 months were entered into the study. Fifty-three per cent of the children were fully immunized, 19% were defaulters and the rest were totally not immunized. The main reason for defaulting were inconvenience of vaccination time, child sickness and lack of information about the need for repeated vaccination. The main reasons for not being immunized were lack of faith in vaccination, not knowing its availability and lack of time. Inconsistent outreach programs and weak health education were the major rectifiable causes of the low coverage and high defaulter rate. Strengthening of the health education and outreach programs and development of mechanism for follow-up and defaulter tracing are recommended.