UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK A STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF MALE NURSES AS CARE GIVERS IN SELECTED PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN KIAMBU COUNTY BY WALTER THUKU KAMAU C50/80083/2012 A PROJECT PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY (RURAL SOCIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT), UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2016 DECLARATION STUDENTS DECLARATION I declare that this research project is my original work and has not been submitted to any other university for an academic credit. Signature: ________________________ WALTER THUKU KAMAU Date : ________________________ APPROVAL BY SUPERVISOR This research project has been submitted with my approval as the university supervisor. Signature: _________________ PROFESSOR P. CHITERE Date : _________________________ ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my family, the source of my strength. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank God for good health and seeing me through this journey. My unlimited thanks go to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Kamau Kimathi, who provided continuous encouragement, support and funding for this dissertation. I also thank my wife, Esther Watiri and my son, Jabali Kamau, who were the source of my inspiration for this study. I would also like to thank Dr. Stephen Njuguna, Chief Officer -Health, County Government of Kiambu for easing access to the County Health Facilities. Extended thanks go to Mr. Justin N. Ngugi, Karuri Hospital for your valued assistance. I am also grateful to the staff and management of all the five health facilities for their support. My extended gratitude also goes to all the male nurses and their supervisors, coordinators who contributed to the success of this research. Special thanks to my supervisor at the University of Nairobi, Professor Preston Chitere for his guidance, support and patience with the project and its perfection. His mentorship made it possible for me to successfully accomplish this task. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ................................................................................................................................ ii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ x Definition of Terms .................................................................................................................. xi Abstract ................................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................................... 5 1.4.1 Main Objective ................................................................................................................. 5 1.4.2 Specific Objectives .......................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Justification of the Study .................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study .................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK . 7 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 The History of Nursing .................................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Men in Female-Dominated Positions ............................................................................. 10 2.2 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Site Description ................................................................................................................. 26 3.3 Research Design ................................................................................................................ 31 3.4 Units of Analysis and Observation ................................................................................... 32 3.5 Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 32 v 3.6 Data Collection and analysis ............................................................................................. 33 3.6.1 Type of Data .................................................................................................................. 33 3.6.2 Data Analysis Methods and Presentation ....................................................................... 33 3.7 Ethical Issues .................................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION ................................................................................................................................................ 35 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 35 4.2 Characteristics of the male nurses ..................................................................................... 35 4.2.1. Age Distribution ............................................................................................................ 35 4.2.2 Marital status .................................................................................................................. 36 4.2.3 Education level ............................................................................................................... 36 4.2.4 Years of Experience as a Nurse ..................................................................................... 37 4.3 Motivation for entry into nursing ...................................................................................... 38 4.3 Rewards............................................................................................................................. 46 4.4 Male nurses’ perception of their profession ...................................................................... 50 4.5 Performance ...................................................................................................................... 59 4.6 Coping mechanisms .......................................................................................................... 71 4.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 78 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 79 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 79 5.2 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 79 5.2.1 Motivations for entry into the career .............................................................................. 83 5.2.2 Rewards.......................................................................................................................... 84 5.2.3 Male nurse's Perceptions of their career ........................................................................ 79 5.2.4 Performance ................................................................................................................... 79 5.2.5 Coping Mechanisms ....................................................................................................... 83 5.3 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 843 5.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................