INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The term interpersonal relationship is synonymous with

interpersonal communication which is the relationship between two or

more people (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary 2010). It is any

means of exchanging information or feelings between people. It is a

basic component of human relationship the intent of any

communication is to elicit a response.

The new Concise English Dictionary (1989) put it that relationship

means feelings between people. It is however important to have good

relationship between one another as this goes along way to foster spirit

of togetherness or oneness thereby affecting work output in any

organization.

Generally for any organization to achieve its goals and objectives

the crucial role of interpersonal relationship should be recognised. A

Sociologist opined that the purpose of human relations concept is to

assist the manager to work more effectively with other people in the

organisation. The knowledge of human relations is important in our

daily activities. Hack-Halloran (1978) defines human relations as all the

interactions that occur among people whether they are conflicts or

cooperative behaviour. The interpersonal relationship of people in any

organization and the aspects of integrating motivating and activating

them to accomplish individual and organizational goals is the chief

concern of human relations.

In the healthcare perspective Peplau (2011) described nursing as

a therapeutic interpersonal relationship which facilitates the growth and

development of both client (patient) and nurse. It helps the client to

progress toward constructive productive and creative living. The

midwife client relationship is essential to nursing practice. It is the

midwife-client interaction that enhances the client’s wellbeing and the

clients may be an individual a family a group or a community.

The Code of Professional Conduct (NMC 2002) requires a midwife

to respect the patient or client as an individual. it holds the practitioner

personally accountable for ensuring the promotion protection interest

and dignity of patient irrespective of gender age race ability sexuality

economic status lifestyle cultural and religious or political beliefs.

A midwife is a person who having been regularly admitted into a

midwifery educational programme acquire the requisite qualification to

be legally registered or licensed to practice midwifery (Myles 2003). A

patient is a person who is receiving medical treatment especially in a

hospital. A client is a person who uses the services or advice of a

professional person or organisation.

The importance of midwives in every community are numerous as

they help in areas of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity

reduction which is one of the millennium development goals objective in

pregnancy labour and post natal periods. For the midwife to be able to

carry out qualitative healthcare services to her patient/client she needs

interpersonal communication skills which enable patient/client to disclose

critical information about their health problems. It also allows the

healthcare provider to diagnose and treat health problems more

accurately. Interpersonal communication (IPC) leads to behaviour

change it enhances cordial relationship clears ideas that are not well

understood.

The effective use of verbal and non verbal interpersonal

communication to pass information consists of spoken words and written

words people use to convey ideas. During the health care encounter

the words patients/clients and midwives use greatly influence how well

they understand each other. Non-verbal communication includes

gestures body movement positions and even silence. Midwives who

appear attentive avoid distractions smiles and sit on the same level as

the patient/client all convey an important message of caring listening

and empathy. Good interpersonal communication (IPC) skills have been

found to change midwives behaviour in concrete ways.

Statement of the Problem

As important as interpersonal communication (IPC) is in ensuring

effective and quality healthcare delivery service it is important to find

out how the midwives in Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital are using this skill

for quality care.

In view of the above the researcher intends to find out the

barriers leading to ineffective interpersonal relationship between

midwives and patients/clients in the labour ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial

Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to determine the interpersonal

relationship that exist between midwives and patients in the labour ward

of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi. Specifically the study

will:

1. Determine the attitude of midwives towards patients in the labour

ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

2. Ascertain how the midwives interact with patients in the labour

ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

3. Determine how the midwives attend to the patients in the labour

ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

4. Determine the availability of equipment in the labour ward in Sir

Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this research will help improve interpersonal

relationship between midwives and patients/clients.

It will raise awareness of the masses and expectant mothers on

the effective interpersonal communication and relationship between

midwives and patients/clients.

It will make the hospital management assign more midwives to

labour wards to ease the workload.

It will help the state government and ministry of health Kebbi state

in making equipment available to hospital.

Research Questions

1. What is the attitude of midwives towards patients in the labour

ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

2. How do the midwives interact with patients in the labour ward in

Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

3. How do the midwives attend to patients in the labour ward in Sir

Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

4. What are the available equipment in the labour ward in Sir Yahaya

Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi.

Scope of the Study

The study is limited to the interpersonal relationship between

midwives and patients/clients in labour ward in Sir Yahaya Memorial

Hospital Birnin Kebbi.