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The South African church was brought to its knees in the months leading up to the country's first democratic elections in 1994, when the African National Congress won an overwhelming [...]

Introduction:Pain is a common symptom for patients receiving palliative care, but can be relieved by effective pain management. Nurses play a critical part in implementing pain management effectively and must therefore have a solid foundation of knowledge and a positive attitude toward it. Aim: The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate an educational pain management programme (PMP) for nurses in Kenya.Methods:The effects of the PMP were measured using a quasi-experimental pre-post test design. Twenty seven nurses from two units in a single health institution in Kenya participated in a baseline assessment using the Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (NKASRP). Nine randomly selected nurses then received 7 hours of focused education. This group completed the assessment again both immediately after and 2 weeks after the PMP.Results:A deficit in knowledge and attitudes related to pain management was prominent at baseline. The nurses who received the PMP scored significantly higher on the NKASRP following the PMP: mean scores were 18.44, 28.00, and 27.56 at baseline, first follow-up, and second follow-up assessment respectively.Conclusion:The PMP appears to be effective in improving nurses' pain knowledge and attitudes.

The article focuses on the significant role of health professionals in the promotion of breast feeding. One factor contributing to ambivalent attitudes towards breast feeding is the function of the breast for feeding infants and its role in inciting sexual emotions. The article cites that providing information about breast feeding allows women to make decisions about infant feeding, choose a feeding method and to be comfortable with the methods adopted. Example of interventions include peer support, professional support and hospital practices. INSET: Evidence-based actions promoting breastfeeding.

Health professionals can help women make informed choices about how they wish to feed their baby.