Assessing the Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Practice of Respectful Maternal Care among Nurses in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the impact of educational intervention on nurses' knowledge and practice of respectful maternal care in North Central Nigeria. A quasi-experimental one-group research design was adopted. The study was conducted among 222 midwives in nine randomly selected hospitals, cutting across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State. Following the educational intervention, nurses showed a marked improvement in their understanding and application of respectful maternity care. Average knowledge scores increased from 17.42 before the training to 20.88 at six weeks, with a slight decrease to 19.61 by the twelfth week (p < 0.001). Similarly, their practice scores rose from 92.37 pre-intervention to 104.48 post-intervention, then tapered slightly to 99.09, still significantly higher than baseline (p < 0.001). These outcomes reflect meaningful learning gains and positive shifts in care behaviour, though they also underscore the need for continued reinforcement.