COMMUNITY-RELATED FACTORS INFLUENCING GENDER INEQUALITY IN NURSING PROFESSION, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG NURSES AND STUDENT NURSES FROM SELECTED HOSPITALS AND NURSES TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN NORTHERN UGANDA.

Lilly Grace Lalam; Florence  Nabushawo Oketcho

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i6.359

Authors

Lilly Grace Lalam School of Nursing and Midwifery, Clarke International University.
Florence Nabushawo Oketcho School of Nursing and Midwifery, Clarke International University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i6.359

Keywords:

Community, Male Nurses, Gender, Inequality, Nursing profession

Abstract

Introduction:

The striking level of gender inequality (GI) in the nursing profession (NP) is also influenced by community-related factors. 81.3% of preferences and choices for NP were determined by gender roles. Caring and nurturing (64.2%) were the major female gender roles associated with nursing, a potential reason for 73.6% of female nurses. Patients/attendants and staff calls female nurses “sisters”, a traditional concept associated with their communal gender roles. Various individuals are nurses for different community-motivating reasons. Largely, 36.1% of rude nurses, possibly intervene. Community male nurses' perception discourages most males from the female-dominated profession. Friends/peers are the leading community perpetrator of GI in NP. The main study objective was to determine factors influencing gender inequality in the nursing profession among nurses and student nurses in the selected hospitals and nurses training institutions in the northern cities of Uganda.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study design was used to obtain quantitative data from respondents. Trained research assistants acquired raw data using a pretested structured English questionnaire. Data were single-entered and analyzed using statistical software version 26. Study variables were described using Frequency tables and graphs. Univariate and bivariate analysis methods were used to identify factors associated with GI. Variables with a P-value of <0.05 with a 95% confidence interval were used to declare statistical significance.

Results:

95.6% of responses were achieved. Community gender challenge for Becoming a Nurse

(X ²=17.907, p-0.000) was significantly associated with GI in NP. Friends/peers are the main community perpetrator of gender discrimination (42.4%). Academic failures (32.1%) and doctors (29.5%) were the foremost community perception of male nurses.

Conclusion:

Family and community support is key to gender equality in NP for the achievement of SDGs and health targets.

Recommendation:

More research is needed to strengthen policies in the NP.

Author Biographies

Lilly Grace Lalam, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Clarke International University.

is a Luo and an Acoli from Northern Uganda born on 28^th November 1978 in Kitgum Town to Mr Okongo Joseph of Pawor clan in Lukung Lamwo District, a bicycle repairer, and the Late Mrs Ayoo Hellen Okongo of Gem clan in Acholibur Pader District, a housewife. I am married, my sons are Emmanuel and Samuel; my daughters are Mary and Maurine.

My education journey had a lot of thorns and nails, hills and valleys but I have never given up my dream. I completed O’level in 1997 from Y.Y okot Girls Memorial school in Kitgum; A’ level (UACE) in 1999 from Sacred Heart Secondary school in Gulu; certificate in comprehensive nursing from Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery from Nov 2002 to Nov 2005; diploma in comprehensive nursing from Lira school of comprehensive nursing from June 2010 to Nov 2011; and last bachelor of Nursing science of Clarke International University from 2018 August to 2022 March.

From 2006 till 2019, I have worked in research settings and none research settings with reputable research organizations in Uganda like the Uganda Bureau of statistics in the field and infectious diseases research collaborations in a clinical trial. As well as other international NGOs like Food for the Hungry, and Child voice international. This publication is from my dissertation for BNS.