title: PARENTS' AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PERSPECTIVES ABOUT HOSPITALISED CHILDREN BEING VISITED BY OTHER CHILDREN IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Throughout history, visitation of the hospitalised child has always been restricted. The subject of whether hospitalised children should be visited by other children has been accorded minimal attention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the current status of visitation of the hospitalised children and the parents and healthcare providers'views on hospitalised children being visited by other children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study carried out using quantitative and qualitative methods in two phases
  
  
  METHODS
  All paediatric wards at Kenyatta National Hospital and Gertrudes Children's Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses, paediatricians and parents of hospitalised children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 161 parents participated in phase I of the study whereas 11 nurses not specialised in paediatric nursing, 13 paediatric nurses, 12 nurse managers, fur paediatricians and13 parents participated in phase II of the study. The study established that visiting of the hospitalised child by family members especially children aged below twelve years is severely restricted particularly in the public hospital. Despite this, however, majority of the healthcare providers and the parents acknowledged the importance of the hospitalised children being visited by other children. This is because it promotes healing, gives the sick child psychological satisfaction and relieves anxiety in the hospitalised child, the accompanying parent and the other children. The risk of exposing the visiting children to infection was cited as the main reason for the restrictions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the healthcare providers and the hospitalised children's parents appreciate the importance of the hospitalised child being visited by other children. There is a need to review healthcare policies to make provision for hospitalised children to be visited by other children.
authors: College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya. gekondomoke@gmail.com
authors: D G M
authors: DG
authors: Makworo
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Bwibo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Omoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data