The Application of Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Assess the Relationships between Psychosocial Elements and Intention to seek Therapy among Obstetric Fistula Women in North-west Nigeria
- April 9, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRSI, Nursing
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue III, March 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705
Muhammad Anka Nasiru, Faruk U. Abubakar
Department of Nursing Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria
Abstract—This study applied the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to the study of obstetric fistula disease. The main objective of this study is to carry out a feasibility study of 321 OF patients to assess if there would be significant relationships between psychosocial variables and intention to seek therapy among the victims of fistula disease. A total of 321 questionnaires was administered, 302 were valid for further analysis. The result of the study indicated significant relationships between psychosocial elements and intention to seek therapy. Specifically, there was a meaningful positive relationship between decision-making and the plan to seek therapy (β=0.18, t=4.33, p<0.01). Conversely, the result indicated no significant relationship between the attitude of health personnel and the intention to seek therapy (β=0.06, t=1.29, p<0.10). Furthermore, the result of the study established a significant positive relationship between low-stigma and intention to seek therapy (β=0.11, t=3.15, p<0.01). Also, this study showed a significant positive relationship between social support and intention to seek therapy (β=0.11, t=2.00, p<0.02). Moreover, the finding of the study established that transportation is positively related to the intention to seek therapy (β=0.29, t=3.91, p<0.01). Furthermore, the study confirmed that there is a significant positive relationship between the quality of health and intention to seek therapy among obstetric fistula women (β=0.35, t=4.31, p<0.01). Thus, this study concludes that SEM is a more significant model, which performs estimations superior to first-generation and some other co-variance based regression models for examining variables, and that the assessment based on the SEM approach did examine the latent variables and their relationship as well as tested the relationship between the latent variables. Consequently, this study recommends that for accurate predictions, attention should be focused on thorough data screening and preliminary data analysis of all the latent constructs that would be employed in future researches.
Keywords: Structural equation modeling; psychosocial elements; intention, therapy, obstetric fistula
