Factors Affecting Interpersonal Relationships among the Skilled Health Workers in Primary Health Care Facilities in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria
Charles Nelson
Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria and Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze, Nigeria.
F N Amaeze
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze, Nigeria.
A A Amaeze
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze, Nigeria.
Peter Chinedu Agu
Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, Evangel University, Akaeze, Nigeria.
AA Igwe
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze, Nigeria.
C N. Ibe
Department of Public Health Education, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
R. C. Agoha
College of Nursing, National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu
*
Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The study examined the impacts of interpersonal communication among the healthcare providers in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria. It identified positive factors aiding, as well as impediments to interpersonal communication among the professionals in community health facilities with their effects on healthcare delivery.
Methods: The work was a descriptive study with well well-designed and validated questionnaire used to obtain information from the target area. In doing this, 100 community health workers drawn from 12 health centers were involved.
Results: The study revealed that 90% of the health workers were aware of, and engaged in interpersonal communication. Among them,36% got their information from lectures; 30% got theirs from their workplaces; 30% got their own from the Media; 10% from their colleagues and 4% obtained their own from their friends. It also revealed poor communication, superiority, leadership failure, and prejudice as barriers to interpersonal relationships and ways of overcoming them.
Conclusion: The study posited that for successful accomplishments in primary health care delivery, effective communication among the health workers, and corresponding interpersonal interaction between the health workers and patients is needed. We recommended ways of improving factors aiding effective communication as steps to be taken toward removing the impediments to it for the general benefit of health workers, patients, health managers, and society at large.
Keywords: Communication, health facilities, health workers, interpersonal relationship, productivity