1.1 Introduction
Community Health Practitioners are Primary Health Care Professionals who had undertaken a standard training programme and passed the examinations set by the training institution and national regulatory body meant for the cadre and licensed (Ibama et al., 2014). They were created in 1978 by the then Military administration to work at the Primary Health Care system, with the aim of correcting the short-fall observed during third National Development Plan period of our country, Nigeria. According to Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (2008), Community Health Practitioners are core polyvalent workers and these have remained the core Primary Health Care Workers in Nigerian Primary Health Care system.
This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The community health is dedicated to enhancing general health and avoiding diseases that impact the whole population. Most of the time, the community's resources are used to address their problems. Resources from both the public and commercial sectors may be used. As early as the 1960s, advocates promoted the notion that the community should serve as the hub for the delivery of health care. Primary Health Care evolved from the idea of Basic Health Services. Regarding this, starting in the late 1960s and continuing through the 1970s, WHO health policy gave significant weight to the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of health care.
Community health is centred on the well-being of the entire population rather than just the individual via the implementation of primary health care concepts and practices. Reducing poverty, promoting economic progress, and safeguarding the environment have all been made possible by investments in human health (WHO, 2001). Safe water and vaccination programmes, for example, are examples of public health investments that have more advantages than drawbacks.
Community health practitioners have the potential to greatly enhance the availability, compliance, and continuity of care for people of the community while also lowering the cost of healthcare. Community health practices prioritise the provision of coordinated primary and preventive care, which leads to the decrease of health inequities for underserved groups such as low-income persons, racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, and others. A community is deemed healthy if it has a low rate of illness and mortality, is not endangered by unfavourable environmental conditions, has a strong economy, and has excellent health practices that are supported by scientific data. In addition, a high literacy rate, a balanced sex ratio, long life expectancy, high human development index, and well-maintained population are indicators of health.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of Community Health Practitioners on Delivery Safety.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the rising rate of incarceration, cycling, and the distinct combination of health and social issues that incarcerated women face indicate that women involved in the justice system need programmes, services, and care from several community health providers in various settings, as well as accountability for requesting these services (Shinkfield & Graffam, 2009; Springer, 2010).
Proper and necessary medical treatment is being given since, as a significant part of primary healthcare, community diagnosis is conducted in local government units and communities to guarantee the resolution of particular, often occurring health issues within the framework of those communities.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Community Health Practitioners on Delivery Safety. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the delivery safety measures put in place by the community health practitioners;
- To highlight importance of safe delivery practice;
- To examine the status of safe delivery practice; and
- To identify the challenges encountered by Community Health Practitioners towards safe delivery practice in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the delivery safety measures put in place by the community health practitioners?
- What is the status of safe delivery practice?
- What is the importance of safe delivery practice?
- What are the challenges encountered by Community Health Practitioners towards safe delivery practice in Nigeria?
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