CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF SIWES The Student Industrial Work Experience (SIWES) programme was established by the ITF in 1973 to solve the problems of lack of adequate practical skills preparatory for employment in industries by Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions. The scheme exposes students to industrially based skills necessary for a smooth transition from the classroom to the word of work. It afford students of tertiary institutions the opportunity of being familiarized and exposed students to the industrial situation they are likely to be face after graduations, that is why it is very imperative for every student to be fully aware of the task ahead. Participation of SIWES has become a necessary pre-condition for the ward of Diploma and Degree Certificate in specific disciplines in most institutions of higher learning in the country, in accordance with the education policy of government. This consequently serves as a good training and preparation of their future career. 1.2 Aim and objectives of SIWES Student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) has a valuable asset of our learning because it enhances and provides a practical training field for the students. The SIWES aims to introduce students in part of practical that he compiled which may not be available in the institutions. It also exposes students to the industrial situation that they are likely to face after graduation. This scheme also expose the students to know how to handle equipment that may not be available in education institution and to equip the students with necessary notation and capabilities to specify systems requirement and prove that this requirement are fulfilled by practical implementation. 1.3 ADVANTAGE OF SIWES 1. SIWES will provide students the opportunity to test their interest in a particular career before permanent commitments are made. 2. SIWES students will develop skills in the application of theory to practical work situations. 3. SIWES students will develop employment records/references that will enhance employment opportunities. 4. SIWES students will develop skills and techniques directly applicable to their careers. 5. SIWES will aid students in adjusting from college to full-time employment. 6. SIWES will provide students the opportunity to develop attitudes conducive to effective interpersonal relationships. 7. SIWES will increase a student's sense of responsibility. 8. SIWES students will be prepared to enter into full-time employment in their area of specialization upon graduation. 9. SIWES will provide students the opportunity to test their aptitude for a particular career before permanent commitments are made. 10. SIWES will provide students the opportunity to understand formal organizational interrelationships. 12. SIWES students will acquire good work habits. 13. SIWES Students will be able to provide tools to use in prioritizing tasks of an assigned project and create with staff a tentative schedule for

1. CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCES AND SATISFACTION WITH BIRTH AMONG
WOMEN IN SELECTED NIGERIAN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES DURING
COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A MIXED METHOD
Ihudiebube-Splendor, C.N.1,2*, Enwereji-Emeka, V.1, Chikeme,
P.C.2, Ubochi N.E2 & Omotola, N. J.
PRESENTER
IHUDIEBUBE-SPLENDOR, C.N. (Ph.D)
@
International Conference of Directorate of Research and
Publications, College of Medicine, UNN
13th – 14th March, 2024

2. Introduction
Childbirth is one of the
most notable events in a
woman’s life (Bell & Andersson, 2016)
Childbirth experiences are women’s personal feelings &
interpretations of birth processes which could be difficult
to describe and explain.

3. Introduction…
The outbreak of COVID-19 instilled tension and worries in
all Nigerian citizens
could also affect the birth experiences and satisfaction of
women.
Abia State in particular, recorded the highest daily figure,
with 67 infections out of 260 new cases of COVID-19 (NCDC,
2020).

4. Discovering women’s experiences and their satisfaction
with care provided at this time ensure that healthcare
providers can strive to create a respectful alliance and
empower women with self-confidence.
It is important for women to have trusted support around
them during labor & childbirth, including healthcare
workers & birth companions (WHO, 2018).
Hence, in line with the above

5. Aim
• To explore the experiences of childbirth and
satisfaction with birth among women in selected
healthcare facilities in Umuahia Abia State
Nigeria during COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Materials and Methods
A cross-
sectional
descriptive
study
Design
Mixed
method
Descriptive
qualitative
approach

7. 1268 women
Taro Yamene’s formular
(Qtive study)
304
n = N/1 + N(e)2
Qualitative sample size = 15

8. Two facilities purposively selected
 Federal Medical Centre (FMC)
Umuahia
 Abia State Specialist Diagnostic
Centre Umuahia
(Designated COVID Centres) Qualitative
aspect
Snowballing

9. Inclusion criteria

10. Instrument and participants’ recruitment
Instrument: A validated, researchers-developed questionnaire
and interview guide
Reliability: 0.75 (Test retest; Cronbach alpha test)
Principles of rigor & trustworthiness were achieved through
credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability
Ethical approval (Research Committees of FMC Umuahia (FMC/
QEH/G.596/Vol.10/503).
Informed consent and anonymity of participants

11. Data Collection
 Data were collected by one-on-one contact with
participants during their visits to the Infant Welfare Clinic
In-depth interview(audiotaped) was conducted on 15women
in a quiet corner during the immunization clinics until data
saturation was reached
Data collection exercise lasted for eight months.

12. Qtative descriptively  f, %,
means & standard deviations
All analyses were done with the
aid of IBM SPSS (version 23.0)
Qltive analysis: inductively using
thematic content analysis

13. Key Results/Discussion
304 questionnaires were distributed
filled and returned: 280 (92% retrieval rate)
Sociodemographics
Mean±SD age: 25.87±3.18
Primiparous 150(53.57%)
Normal vaginal delivery 180(64.29%).

14. Perception about childbirth
Labor and delivery (3.66 ± 3.16)
Process of delivering a baby, placenta, and membrane (3.50 ±
3.06)
Act of having a baby (3.50 ± 3.01).
Birth satisfaction of women during childbirth
Majority mostly satisfied with reception received from staff
(2.35 ± 2.29) and respecting the privacy of patients (2.04 ± 1.52).

15. Qualitative results (5 themes and 18 subthemes)
Themes Sub-themes
1. Understanding of childbirth Power of GOD in the events of birth
Self-strength in the events of birth
Courage to push when the baby is coming out
2. Satisfaction with care Physical environment (structure)
Qualified and competent staff
Timely Response to clients by the midwives (process)
Midwives attitude towards care delivery
3. Hospital experiences Delay in accessing care due to lockdown protocols
Hospital protocols
Disruption of Quality Care
4. Unique experiences during Childbirth Natural experiences
Unremarkable feelings
Troublesome experiences
Interventions undertaken with consent
Anxiety/Fear of being Infected
5. Social support Midwife’s Support
Intimate partner experience and advice
Family members Support

16. Conclusion
Women had more positive and less negative but unique childbirth
experiences.
Majority expressed satisfaction with care given by qualified &
competent health workers despite the challenges posed by COVID-
19 pandemic.

17. Provision of physical and emotional support by intimate
partners, midwives’ and family members during delivery had a
significant influence on maternal satisfaction with the entire
birth experience
Thus, all pregnant women and their newborn babies, including
those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections, have
the right to high quality care before, during, and after
childbirth – including mental healthcare.

18. Recommendations
Maternity care practices guidelines should promote feelings of
safety & control for expectant mothers giving birth in the hospital
during a pandemic;
Maternity care staff should always provide clear, concise
information, & compassionate client-centered care to ease women’s
anxiety about unpredictable policy as the pandemic continues to
evolve.
Need to build resilience among maternity care staff as this might
foster positive emotions to assist them in dealing with anxieties,
fears, stress & other challenges of the pandemic.

20. REFERENCES
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