[Dataset] Identifying challenges in implementing child rights instruments in Nigeria; a nationwide survey of knowledge, perception, and practice of child rights among doctors and nurses

We aimed to examine knowledge, perception, and practice of child rights and the influence of demographics among Nigerian doctors and nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional online study of Nigerian doctors and nurses practicing at home and abroad. A structured multiple-choice questionnaire was prepared on ‘Google form’. Knowledge, perception, and practice of child rights were examined under the following themes: major child rights instruments, specific child rights in the CRA, definition of a child, child education, age of criminal responsibility, age of marriage and consent for sexual intercourse, child labour, adolescent reproductive health, physical punishment and rebuke, female circumcision, child adoption, child legitimacy, family court, freedom of thoughts and religion, and child rights advocacy. All questions had mutually exclusive options from which respondents were expected to select their answers. All questions required one answer except for one question (identifying the specific rights of the child) in which more than one answer was expected. In all, there were 13 knowledge, 31 perception, and 10 practice questions. After a pilot test, participants were recruited using the non-probability technique. The link to the questionnaire was sent (through WhatsApp platform and Email) to Nigerian doctors and nurses practicing at home and abroad. Potential respondents were reached in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country through personal contacts and professional groups. Due to the sensitivity of the questions, and to guarantee completely anonymous and possibly the most honest responses, no identifying information was required from the respondents. They were required to fill the form only once, and in addition, the link to submit another response was disabled. Data was collected between September 2021 and January 2022. Each correct or compliant response was awarded a score of ‘1’ in each of the three assessment domains. One question was excluded from the perception score, and three from the practice score; hence, a total of 13 knowledge, 30 perception and 7 practice questions were analyzed. Performance was measured on frequency and ratio scales. Mean scores were compared with 50% and 75% thresholds; performance was graded as good, sufficient, or poor. Chi-square was used to compare proportions. One-sample Student t-test, independent sample Student t-test and ANOVA were used to compare mean scores, as appropriate. Significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 821 practitioners were analyzed (doctors, 49.8%; nurses, 50.2%). Female to male ratio was 2:1 (doctors, 1.2:1; nurses, 3.6:1). Overall, the knowledge score was 45.1%, the perception score was 58.4%, and the practice score was 67.0%. Most knowledgeable were medical fellows and pediatric practitioners. Females and southerners performed better in perception. In the practice domain, nurses performed better, and of all qualifications, post basic nurses recorded the best score.

本研究旨在探讨尼日利亚医护人员（医生与护士）对儿童权利（Child Rights）的认知、态度与实践情况，以及人口统计学特征对其的影响。本研究采用描述性横断面线上调查设计，调研对象为在尼日利亚国内外从业的医护人员。研究依托谷歌表单（Google Form）编制了结构化多项选择题问卷，针对儿童权利的认知、态度与实践，从以下主题展开考察：核心儿童权利文书、《儿童权利法》（Child Rights Act, CRA）中的具体儿童权利、儿童的定义、儿童教育、刑事责任年龄、结婚年龄与性行为同意年龄、童工问题、青少年生殖健康、体罚与斥责、女性割礼、儿童收养、儿童身份合法性、家事法庭、思想与宗教自由，以及儿童权利倡导。所有题目均设置互斥选项，要求受访者选择唯一答案；仅一道题目（识别儿童的具体权利）除外，该题允许多选。整套问卷共计包含13道认知题、31道态度题与10道实践题。预调研完成后，研究采用非概率抽样方法招募受试者。问卷链接通过WhatsApp与电子邮件发送给在尼日利亚国内外从业的医护人员，并通过个人人脉与专业团体，覆盖该国六个地缘政治区的潜在受访者。鉴于题目涉及敏感内容，为确保受访者完全匿名并获取最真实的作答，问卷无需收集任何身份识别信息；同时要求每位受访者仅提交一次作答，且禁用了重复提交的链接。数据采集时段为2021年9月至2022年1月。在三个评估维度中，每道正确或符合要求的作答均可获得1分。最终有1道态度题与3道实践题被排除在计分之外，因此实际纳入分析的题目共计13道认知题、30道态度题与7道实践题。研究采用频次与比率量表评估受试者表现，将平均得分与50%、75%两个阈值进行比对，据此将表现划分为优秀、合格与较差三个等级。采用卡方检验比较各组比例，根据情况分别采用单样本t检验、独立样本t检验与方差分析比较平均得分，检验水准设定为p<0.05。最终共纳入821名医护人员进行分析，其中医生占49.8%，护士占50.2%；男女比例为2:1（医生组男女比1.2:1，护士组3.6:1）。整体来看，受试者的认知得分为45.1%，态度得分为58.4%，实践得分为67.0%。其中医学研究员与儿科医师的认知得分最高；女性与南部地区受试者的态度表现更佳；实践维度中护士表现更优，在所有学历背景中，基础护理后资质护士的得分最高。