Role of Professionalism on Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among Health Practitioners in South-West Nigeria
- Iboro F.A. Ottu
- Anietie M. Umoren
- John O. Ekore
- David E. Okurame
- & Wilson O.V. Ijide,
- ( paper pages. 25 - 44 )
Abstract
Foetal Alcohol
Syndrome (FAS) is a medical defect or condition which affects children as a
result of excessive alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy. Studies
have shown that one of the problems concerning treatment for foetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS) is a lack of awareness of the implications of related risk
behaviours. The present study therefore investigated the extent to which health
practitioners are aware of the prevalence of FAS in Nigeria and the
psychological factors involved therein. The study was conducted among health
practitioners in two towns in South-Western Nigeria using a cross-sectional
field survey. Two hundred and forty-three participants were drawn from four
health institutions in Lagos and Ibadan. Data were analysed using descriptive
analysis, multiple regression, t-test for independent samples and chi-square
test of differences. Results show that professionalism influenced participants’
awareness of foetal alcohol syndrome, with such awareness tilting more towards
theoretical than experiential knowledge [F(1,242) = 10.95, p<.01].
Professional status and years of experience had no influence on FAS awareness,
probably because much of the awareness reported was not on-the-job awareness
but awareness that is related more to professionalism. It is recommended that
health professionals in Nigeria, especially gynaecologists, should pay more
attention to the creation of awareness on FAS among themselves and the general
public through institutional campaigns and screening of clients for history of
alcohol consumption. This awareness will guide them in the screening of
patients – a routine which should also be made part and parcel of pre-natal
investigations in our health establishments as well as during routine medical
consultations.
Citation
Iboro F.A. Ottu, Anietie M. Umoren, John O. Ekore, David E. Okurame, & Wilson O.V. Ijide,.
2022.
"Role of Professionalism on Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among Health Practitioners in South-West Nigeria"
The Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies,
64 (1): 25 - 44.
