Apply
Apply
  1. U of R Home
  2. Faculty of Nursing
  3. Directory
  4. Faculty
  5. Uchechi Clara Opara, RN, PhD

Uchechi Clara Opara, RN, PhD

Profile image for Uchechi Clara Opara, RN, PhD
Pronouns: She/Her
Assistant Professor
Saskatoon

Contact Info

Office:: 306-664-7395
Innovation Place, Concourse Building, Room CO 111
Back to Directory

 

 

Areas of Interest: 

Maternal health, Maternal health services, Culture, Cultural competence and diversity, Cultural determinants of maternal health, Community Health, Indigenous maternal health provision, Global Health, Qualitative inquiry, Ethnographic methodologies

 

About:

I recently graduated with a doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Saskatchewan in 2025. I have also practiced for over 30 years as a clinical nurse/midwife in a secondary health care facility in Nigeria. My current area of research interest focuses on understanding maternal health experiences among the Indigenous population and newcomers to Canada.

 

Designations:

Assistant Professor

 

Current Teaching:

Teaching scholarship: curriculum revisions, newsletters etc.:

 

Recent Grants, Awards & Scholarships:

  • 2022- College of Nursing award $100, Best Poster for 2022 College of Nursing Research and Scholarship Day, University of Saskatchewan, SK.
  • 2022- College of Nursing Award $2500, awarded by the College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, SK.
  • 2022- College of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies Award $1800, University of Saskatchewan, SK
  • 2021- Norman and Alice Caplin Fund $2000, awarded by the College of Nursing, University
  • of Saskatchewan
  • 2020 -$2500, awarded by the College of Nursing graduate award,University of Saskatchewan
  • 2020- April 2021- $9000, awarded by the College of Nursing, devolved scholarship, University of Saskatchewan
  • 2019- April 2020- $6000, awarded by the College of Nursing, Devolved Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan
  • 2019- Norman and Alice Caplin Fund $2000, awarded by the College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan
  • 2016- University of Worcester, UK, academic achievement -£3000 awarded by the University of Worcester, United Kingdom

Publications:

  • Opara, U. C., & Petrucka, P. (2025). Cultural beliefs and practices in sub-Saharan Africa influencing use of maternal health services: A systematic integrative review of qualitative research. Nursing Forum 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/nuf/6416345
  • Opara, U. C., Iheanacho, P. N., & Petrucka, P. (2025). Visible and invisible cultural patterns influencing women’s use of maternal health services among Igala women in Nigeria: A focused ethnographic study. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21275-9
  • Opara, U. C., Iheanacho, P. N., & Petrucka, P. (2024). Cultural and religious structures influencing the use of maternal health services in Nigeria: A focused ethnographic research. Reproductive Health, 21(1), 188. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-024-01933-8
  • Opara, U. C., Iheanacho, P. N., Li, H., & Petrucka, P. (2024). Facilitating and limiting factors of cultural norms influencing use of maternal health services in primary health care facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria; A focused ethnographic research on Igala women. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 555. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06747-x
  • Opara, U. C., Bassendowski, S., & Petrucka, P. (2024). A comparative analysis and evaluation of PEN-3 cultural model and Leininger’s theory. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 20, 100736.
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2024.100736
  • Opara, U. C., & Petrucka, P. (2024). A critical comparison of focused ethnography and interpretive phenomenology in nursing research. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 11, 23333936241238097–23333936241238097. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936241238097

Conference Presentations and Invited Academic Lectures

  • Opara, U. C.  (June 17-18, 2025) Mock Defence. Presentation at the 11th Annual Canadian Doctoral Nursing Network Conference, Regina, Canada
  • Opara, U. C. (January 31, 2025). Doctoral Seminar on Ethnography. Guest lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 896. Instructor: Dr. Shelley Peacock
  • Opara, U. C. & Petrucka, P. (September 25, 2024). Facilitating and limiting factors of cultural norms influencing the use of maternal health services in primary health care facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria; A focused ethnographic research on Igala women. A presentation at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing Research & Scholarship Day 2024.
  • Opara, U. C. (January 27, 2024). Doctoral Seminar on Ethnography. Guest lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 896. Instructor: Dr. Shelley Peacock
  • Opara, U. C. (January 27, 2023). Doctoral Seminar on Ethnography. Guest lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 896. Instructor: Dr. Shelley Peacock
  • Opara U.C. (January 25, 2023). Guest seminar presentation on Experience with Course Work and the Comprehensive Examination Process. University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 997. Moderator: Dr. Pammla Petrucka.
  • Opara, U.C. (January 4, 2023). Guest seminar presentation on Maintaining Good Mental Health in the PhD Program. University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 997. Moderator: Jill Brown
  • Riberio Mariana S. & Opara Uchechi. (October 20-22, 2022). Experiences of Graduate Nursing Researchers in a Patient-oriented Research Team. Presentation at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Conference, Regina, Saskatchewan.
  • Riberio Mariana S. & Opara Uchechi. (October 13-14, 2022). Experiences of Graduate Nursing Researchers in a Patient-oriented Research Team. Presentation at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing Research & Scholarship Day 2022
  • Opara, U. C. & Petrucka, P. (October 13-14, 2022). Women’s Experiences of Cultural Beliefs and Practices That Influence Their Use of Maternal Health Services in Nigeria. Presentation at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing, Research & Scholarship Day 2022
  • Opara, U. C. & Petrucka, P. (May 11-15, 2022). Cultural Beliefs and Practices Influencing Women’s Use of Maternal Health Services in Nigeria. Presentation at the 8th Annual Canadian Doctoral Nursing Network Conference in Regina, Canada
  • Opara, U. C. & Petrucka, P. (June 3, 2021). Cultural Determinants and Outcomes of the Use of Traditional Birth Attendants in Nigeria: An Integrative Review. Presentation at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing Research & Scholarship Day 2021
  • Opara, U. C. (November 2020). Guest lecturer, Topic: “If Culture is to Blame – How Culture Impacts on Maternal Health Outcomes.” University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing. Doctoral seminar online course, NURS 990. Moderator: Holtslander, Lorraine

Current Research

My research is currently focused on maternal health and specifically on understanding the Indigenous and newcomer experience of maternal health service provision

 

In the News – Commentary & Columns

University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing, Nursing Matters 2023, Graduate Student Spotlight: Interview on ongoing research. https://nursing.usask.ca/documents/nursing-matters/nurs-graduate-student-spotlights.pdf