THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (UBTH)

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the role of Social Work in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate and highlight the role of Social Work in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City, Edo State. The research questions asked to achieve the objective of the study were as follows; what is the level of awareness of social work at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), how does medical social worker advocate for patients to resolve emergency situations at University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH) and how does medical professionals get important information from patients at University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH). The sample size was 301 participants chosen from the study population using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling, the research instrument utilized was the questionnaire. The examination of the data obtained from the questionnaire led researchers to the conclusion that social work practise in healthcare settings in Nigeria is here to stay, but it still faces many difficulties. The main issue is that social work in the country has not yet been formalised by a parliamentary act, which has prevented it from being fully integrated into the healthcare system nationwide. This has resulted in individuals from various professions securing social worker positions in healthcare settings (Okoye, 2008). The organisation of professional conferences & Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which will focus on strategies to enhance the provision of social work services in healthcare settings in Nigeria is something that social work associations in Nigeria should pay more attention to. Collaboration with appropriate international representatives would make this more efficient. The National Association of Social Workers (NASOW), the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), and other non-governmental organisations collaborate to lobby for a national policy framework to require the development of Medical Social Work Units across the University Health Services, according to recommendations made based on the findings. This advocacy campaign must necessarily involve pressurising the National Assembly and the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to sign the Professionalisation of Social Work and other Related Matters Bill which was denied assent by the President. Assenting to the bill will no doubt solve most of the problems confronting the Social Work Profession in Nigeria.