Psychosocial Challenges of Student Nursing Mothers in Tertiary Institutions in Imo State, Nigeria

This research investigated the psychosocial challenges of student nursing mothers in tertiary institutions in Imo State. The study employed survey research design. The population of this study consisted the entire nursing mothers studying in regular programmes in all the tertiary institutions in Imo State (Imo State University Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Federal College of Land Resources Technology Oforola, Owerri and Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri) in the 2015/2016 academic session, which were 521 in number. The sample size for the study was 248, which is 50% of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The face and content validity of the instrument was established by two experts in Educational Psychology and two experts in Measurement and Evaluation, all from Imo State University. The Reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.88. It was established through test-retest method of the Pearson product moment correlation co-efficiency. The data gathered was analyzed using frequency counts, mean, standard deviations and z-test statistics. Findings revealed the nature of psychosocial challenges which nursing mothers in tertiary institutions face and also indicated that these challenges negatively affect the academic performance of these students. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made which includes that School management should ensure that they always have a well prepared school calendar which must be adhered to and make it easily accessible to students especially nursing mothers. Also, Lecturers should show concern by informing students how and when assessments will be and make study materials/resources readily available so as to enable students nursing mothers prepare adequately for improved academic performance.