Staff Attitude as Barrier to the Utilisation of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for Obstetric Care

Focus group discussions (FGD) to assess how the attitudes of hospital staff influence the utilisation of health facility for obstetric care at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria, were conducted. The participants were women of childbearing age and men in two communities, as well as health staff at the teaching hospital. The aims were to establish community perception of attitudes of hospital staff and their influence on the utilisation of UCTH for obstetric care. Negative attitudes of hospital staff towards patients stood as a barrier to the utilisation of available obstetric care. Lack of incentives and inadequate materials to work with, as well as poor remuneration contributed to these negative attitudes. Provision of incentives to hospital staff, enhanced regular pay to workers, and regular workshops to train hospital staff are suggested as possible solutions to this problem. (Afr J Reprod Health 2000; 4[2]: 69–73) Resume L'attitude du personnel comme obstacle a l'utilisation des soins obstetriques au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Calabar. L'etude s'est servie de la methode de discussion en groupes cibles pour evaluer la maniere dont l'attitude du personnel au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Calabar (CHUC) au Nigeria influence l'utilisation des facilities de sante pour les soins obstetriques. Comme participants, l'etude s'est servie des femmes encore en âge d'avoir des enfants, les hommes de deux communautes, ainsi que le personnel medical du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Calabar. Le but etait d'etablir la perception qu'a la communaute a l'egard des attitudes du personnel de l'hopital et leurs influences sur l'utilisation des soins obstetriques de CHUC. Les attitudes negatives de la part du personnel de l'hopital envers les patients constituent un obstacle a l'utilisation du soin obstetrique disponible. Ces attitudes negatives ont ete attribuees au manque de primes, a l'insuffisance de materiaux de travail et aux bas salaires. L'etude suggere que les solutions possibles resident dans la stimulation du personnel, l'augementation et le paiement des salaires reguliers au cadre et dans l'organsisation des ateliers pour former le personnel de l'hopital. (Rev Afr Sante Reprod 2000; 4 [1]: 69–73)