School of Medicine

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Start date: 2020Has files: Yes

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    The effects of bullying behaviours among nursing students in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study
    (BioMed Central, 2024-12-23) Johnson, Jedidah Olayinka
    BACKGROUND: Bullying can have profound negative effects on nursing students who often contend with psychological trauma because of repeated acts of mistreatment. This study was done to explore the effects of bullying behaviours among nursing students with above average and below average academic performance in two nursing schools in Sierra Leone. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study involved six rounds of data collection and analysis over a one month period. 48 nursing students recruited from Njala University School of Nursing and Mattru School of Nursing participated in semi structured interviews. Recruitment was done using a purposive sampling method and students with higher than average and lower than average Grade point average (GPA) were selected to participate in the interviews. Interviews were audiotaped recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. An inductive approach with line-by-line coding to identify themes and subthemes was done for the first set of interviews, following this the researchers took a deductive approach to analysis to evaluate if subsequent themes were consistent with initial analysis. RESULTS: Sensitization and apathy were the two broad themes regarding the effects of bullying behaviour demonstrated by students with higher than average and lower than average GPA respectively. Both groups of students had come to accept the inevitability of bullying as nursing students despite the distress it caused them. However, students with lower-than-average GPA also demonstrated resentment and a loss of interest in their studies because of the bullying they had encountered. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that bullying negative affects nursing students regardless of their academic performance. There is an urgent need for policy makers to prioritise the deterrence of bullying of nursing students through implementation of strategies that protect students and punish perpetrators of abuse in nursing schools nationwide.
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    Socio-Demographic and Health Characteristics Associated with Maternal Malnutrition Among Pregnant Women in Kenema District, Sierra Leone
    (2026-03-19) F., Moiforay W.
    This study examines the socio-economic, cultural, and health system characteristics associated with maternal malnutrition among pregnant women in Kenema, Sierra Leone. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, 127 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were surveyed between January and July 2025. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered in local languages and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that poverty is the dominant driver of malnutrition, with 63.8% of respondents earning less than Le5, 000 monthly (approximately \$0.25 USD per day), 75.6% skipping meals due to financial constraints, and 66.1% experiencing hunger during pregnancy. Dietary patterns were heavily carbohydrate-based (90.6%), with limited access to protein and micronutrient-rich foods. Adolescent pregnancy was prevalent (43.4%), and most women were single (72.4%), unemployed, or students. Despite high antenatal care attendance (94.5%) and supplement provision (93.7%), adherence to supplementation and nutrition education remained suboptimal. Cultural and religious food restrictions affected a minority, but poverty overshadowed these as the primary barrier. The study concludes that maternal malnutrition in Kenema is a multidimensional issue requiring integrated interventions that address economic vulnerability, food insecurity, adolescent health, and health system strengthening. These findings provide critical evidence for policymakers and health practitioners designing context-specific nutrition programs in similar low-resource settings.