Availability and Utilisation of Online Communities of Practice (OCoP) for Knowledge Sharing Among Practicing Midwives in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the Availability and Utilisation of Online Communities of Practice (OCoP) platforms for knowledge sharing among Practicing Midwives in Katsina State. Four (4) research objectives were formulated and answered. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to conduct the study. The population of the study comprised of all midwifery under the Katsina State Health Service Management Board (KSHSM). Out of the twenty (20) hospitals under (KSHSM), eight (8) were selected using a stratified sampling technique. An open and close-ended questionnaire was administered to 180 Midwives in the hospitals selected for the study, out of which 113 (62.7%) copies duly completed and returned. The data collected for the study were presented and analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency table and percentage. The findings arising from the study discovered that only Katsina Nurses Forum was available for knowledge sharing in Katsina State hospitals. Whereas, all the Midwives in Katsina State are not aware of the existence of Global Online Communities of Practice (OCoP) for knowledge sharing not to even talk of using the platforms. The study recommends the formulation of policies that support the use of Online Communities of Practice (OCoP) for knowledge sharing and creation of local platforms using social networking sites across all the Hospitals for knowledge sharing among Midwives in Katsina State Hospitals