Changing Patterns in Families: Implications for Community-Public Health Nursing Practice and the role of the Community Health Nursing Practitioner in Family Health

Abstract

Changing Patterns in Families: Implications for Community-Public Health Nursing Practice and the role of the Community Health Nursing Practitioner in Family Health Rufina Anwuli Medunoye1, Omolola Irinoye1, Olaolorunpo Olorunfemi1, Olumuyiwa Femi Adewumi2*, Taiwo Temitope Adeojo3 1Department of Nursing, Achievers University Owo, Ondo State Nigeria. 2Department of Radiography, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 3Department of Physical Science, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria. Corresponding author’s email: muyiclue@gmail.com ABSTRACT The family is the basic unit of the society and one of the most important social institutions in the society globally. Currently the world is experiencing changing patterns in families, these changing patterns in families, include increasing diversity in family structure and roles, demographic changes and it impact on the socio-economic and psychological health and wellbeing of family members and imposes significant implications for community/public health nursing practice. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the impact of these changes on families and the implications to community/public health nursing practice and the role of the community health nursing practitioners in promoting family health despite the changing pattern in families. This review article analyzes existing literatures on changing family patterns, demographic changes (low fertility, delayed marriages and ageing population), potential factors promoting these changes in pattern, the impact of these changes on family health. And the need for community/public health nursing practitioners to assess family dynamics, provide family-centered care, support and promote family health and wellbeing using the Calgary family assessment model (CFAM) for interventions that suits the different emerging family patterns. The review indicates that changing patterns in families is a global issue of public health concern and affect the structure and role of family members as well as the socioeconomic and psychological conditions in the society. Therefore, there is need for the community/public health nurse practitioner who plays a significant role on the family health, through the provision of health education, health promotion, illness prevention like screening programs and various interventions to adapt to the changing needs of the families. This review paper highlights the importance of community health nursing practitioners being aware of the changing patterns in families and adapting their practice to meet the unique needs of families. Future studies should focus on culturally sensitive strategies and advocate for social support system for families especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria to address changing family patterns and bridge the gap of access to family health services especially among the vulnerable populations. Key Words: Family, Family health, changing patterns, community/public health nursing, community health.