Pediatric nurses play an essential role in delivering healthcare services to children, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare facilities and trained personnel is limited. In Kaduna State, a significant portion of the population resides in rural areas with inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Despite the critical role pediatric nurses play in improving child health outcomes, they face various challenges that hinder their ability to provide optimal care in these regions.
Rural healthcare delivery in Kaduna is particularly challenging due to factors such as inadequate healthcare facilities, a shortage of trained healthcare professionals, limited access to essential medical supplies, and poor transportation infrastructure (Ogunleye & Dogo, 2023). Additionally, cultural beliefs, limited health education, and the migration of healthcare workers to urban centers exacerbate the issues faced by pediatric nurses in rural areas. These challenges are further compounded by high rates of childhood morbidity and mortality, especially from preventable diseases, which pediatric nurses must address despite the resource constraints.
Understanding the challenges faced by pediatric nurses in rural healthcare settings in Kaduna State is critical for developing targeted interventions that can improve healthcare delivery and outcomes for children in these areas.
Despite the importance of pediatric nursing in rural healthcare, nurses in these areas face several challenges that affect their ability to provide quality care to children. There is limited research on the specific challenges faced by pediatric nurses in rural Kaduna State, and a comprehensive understanding of these challenges is necessary to implement strategies to address them effectively.
The study will focus on pediatric nurses working in rural healthcare settings in Kaduna State. Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, and observations. Limitations may include access issues in remote rural areas and potential biases in responses from healthcare workers who may fear repercussions for reporting challenges.