Work Environment and Primary Health Care Facilities: A Phenomenological Study of Community Health Nurses’ Experiences in Bauchi State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Primary health care, unsafe work environment, community health nurses, occupational hazards, workplace violence, phenomenological studyAbstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate community health nurses' actual experiences with hazardous work conditions in PHC facilities in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The design adopted was a survey. A purposive sample of twelve community health nurses from government-owned PHC institutions in Bauchi State was taken. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, which were then subjected to thematic analysis within a phenomenological framework. Among the findings is exposure to occupational hazards, such as frequent needle stick injuries and unprotected contact with infectious materials. The results show poor occupational health governance in PHC settings, persistent resource limitations, and systemic neglect, with emphasis on gendered vulnerabilities, normalised hazards, and the lack of institutional safety and support structures. In conclusion, community health nurses in Bauchi State work in hazardous environments that pose a risk to their health and the quality of care they provide. Hence, integrated interventions are needed, such as improved infrastructure, regular distribution of personal protection equipment, violence prevention procedures, psychosocial support, and robust policy execution to protect nurses and increase the resilience of the PHC system.
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