Challenges and Enhancement of Medical Social Workers in Public Health Facilities in Nigeria

The study sought to explore the challenges and enhancement of medical social workers in public health facilities in Nigeria, with particular reference to Delta State, Nigeria. A phenomenological and exploratory research design was adopted for the study. An unstructured in-depth interview (IDI) guide was used for data collection. Lack of legal backing, inadequate facilities, unfavorable organizational structure, lack of graduate medical social workers, inadequate recognition of the role of medical social workers, domineering attitude of medical professionals, inadequate remuneration, lack of means of transportation, and inadequate motivation, were the challenges facing social workers in the public health care facilities. This study, to enhance medical social workers recommends, amongst others, that social work education and practice should be legalized and given the needed professional status in Nigeria. All health professionals, including medical social workers, should imbibe the values/ethics of interprofessional teamwork in public health facilities. Professional medical social workers should be engaged in all Nigerian public health facilities.