Page 86 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Attitude of health-care workers toward hospital patients

population or phenomenon. This type of research provides in Enugu and the Enugu State University of Science
an in-depth and accurate image of the characteristics and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane
and actions of a certain group or topic (Sirisilla, 2023). Enugu, are the two tertiary health-care facilities in Enugu
Descriptive research enables researchers to gather data in a State. The UNTH accommodates up to 500 active beds
methodical way to characterize a population, circumstance, (UNTH, 2024), while ESUT Teaching Hospital’s intensive
or phenomenon. Researchers can gain a deeper care unit (ICU) is equipped with four beds and various
understanding of a certain issue through observations and medical equipment such as ventilators, suction machines,
data collection, which can serve as a foundation for further defibrillators, i-stat machines, multiparameter monitors,
investigation (VOXCO, 2021; Sirisilla, 2023). This research and syringes and infusion pumps (Eya et al., 2022). The
design facilitated a real-time exploration of healthcare ESUT Teaching Hospital has a total of 350 healthcare
workers’ attitudes toward hospital patients amid the 2020 workers (Onoh, 2021). In Nigeria, medical doctors earn an
COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, as well as an examination average monthly salary of 217,000 Naira (Glassdoor, 2024).
of the pivotal role of social workers in ensuring patients’
access to effective health-care. Furthermore, it enabled the 2.3. Sample size
researchers to incorporate and describe a strong theme that In the study, the sample size consisted of 17 respondents,
emerged in the field: the attitude of community members/ comprising three medical social workers, four healthcare
patients toward hospital care during the COVID-19 workers (including a public health-care worker, a doctor,
pandemic in Nigeria. and two nurses), and 10 community members. Two of the

2.2. Area of the study medical social workers were selected from the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka Medical Centre, and one from the
Participants for this study were drawn from Enugu UNTH, Ituku Ozalla. The medical social workers were
State, one of Nigeria’s 36 states, and were among those selected to provide their perspective on the role of social
significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. workers in ensuring adequate healthcare for patients
By mid-August 2020, Enugu State had reported a total during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the healthcare
of 976 COVID-19 cases, with 19 fatalities, 650 patients workers, a doctor was selected from the University of
discharged, and 307 cases actively receiving treatment. Nigeria, Nsukka Medical Centre, while the first nurse was
The crude case fatality rate at the time stood at 1.95%. selected from Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, and the
The moderately deficient health systems of Enugu State, second nurse was from the UNTH, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu.
caused by inadequate funding from the public sector and In addition, a public healthcare worker was selected from
a high burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, the Faith Foundation Hospital Nsukka, Enugu State. The
HIV, and malaria, may have contributed to the rise in remaining 10 respondents were community members and
the COVID-19-linked fatality rate between February and non-healthcare workers from different walks of life, such
August 2020 (Strategic Purchasing Africa Resource Centre as farmers, traders, and civil servants. These individuals
[SPARC], 2021). Further insight was gained from two were selected based on their recent hospital visits within
doctors in Lagos who were among those protesting due to 6 months from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
issues such as unpaid allowances, hazard allowances, and in Nigeria (February 27, 2020). Their participation was
poor working conditions. These concerns were highlighted crucial in providing perspectives on health-care workers’
during a live broadcast on Arise News Television. attitudes toward hospital patients during the COVID-19

Nigeria’s population was projected to reach pandemic and the attitudes of community members and
226.2 million by December 2023, with an average annual patients toward hospital care.
growth rate exceeding 2% from 1965 to 2023. In 2023, the 2.4. Sampling technique
population increased by 2.44% compared to the previous
year. The most populous nation in Africa is Nigeria The study adopted a non-probability sampling technique.
(Statista, 2023). Similarly, the current population estimate This method is usually adopted when random probability
for Enugu in 2024 is 875,552. There were 59,663 residents sampling is not practicable due to time or money constraints
in Enugu in 1950. Enugu’s annual growth rate over the past (Fleetwood, 2023). Non-probability sampling is equally
year has been 3.42% (28,992 residents) (World Population adopted when peculiar characteristics are sorted out among
Review, 2024). Furthermore, Enugu State has a total of 868 the population, such as in this study, where key informants
health-care facilities, comprising 524 primary health-care such as healthcare workers and social workers are needed.
facilities, 342 secondary health-care facilities, and two Purposive and availability sampling were employed to select
tertiary health-care facilities (Procurement Monitor, 2024). the respondents for this study. Medical social workers and
The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) healthcare workers were purposefully selected for this study.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2743