Effect Of community resource persons’ activities on child health and survival in two rural communities of ondo state.

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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
The study assessed and compared the knowledge and practice of growth promotion/ development and disease prevention among rural dwellers with and without trained Community Resource Persons (CORPs). It also determined the effect of trained CORPs activities on knowledge of household management of common childhood illnesses. In addition, it determined the effect of trained CORPs activities on health seeking behaviour of caregivers with a view to determine the effect of CORPs activities on child health and survival in two rural communities in Ondo State. The study employed a quasi-experimental design. The sample comprises of one hundred and eighty respondents selected by multistage sampling technique from two rural communities (ninety respondents from each community). Caregivers’ knowledge and practice of key household and community practices were assessed using the Integrated management of childhood Illnesses household level survey questionnaire. Six CORPs were trained to train other caregivers in the intervention community while the control community was not exposed to trained CORPS. The knowledge and practice of both communities were determined and compared. Data were analyzed using percentages and mean scores while associations were established using Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA. Result showed that proportion of caregivers with knowledge of the five key areas of growth promotion/development and disease prevention increased significantly in the intervention community (t= -9.919; p<0.001; mean=3.61 to 5.38).Specifically, the proportion of caregivers with knowledge on when to initiate breastfeeding increased by 17.8%, benefits of colostrum by 40%, exclusive breastfeeding by 27.8 %, benefits of Vitamins A by 88.8%, other sources of Vitamin A by 47.8%. There was no significant increase in the control community (t = 1.654; p>0.001; mean = 2.99 to 2.73). The practice of hand washing also increased significantly in the intervention community. (t = -14.988; p<0.001; mean = 2.93 to 5.74). There was no significant increase in the control community (t = 0.703; p>0.001; mean = 2.86 to 2.19). Proportion of caregivers with knowledge in the two areas of household management of common childhood illnesses (removing clothes and tepid sponging) also increased significantly in the intervention community (t = 4.14; p<0.001; mean 2.78 to 3.49). However, no significant increase was observed in the control community (t= -0.891; p>0.001; mean = 1.78 to 1.96). Similarly, the proportion of caregivers’ with knowledge in the two areas of health seeking behavior (when to seek advice/ treatment and causes of cough with fast and/or difficult breathing) increased significantly in the intervention community (t = -19.485; p<0.001; mean = 1.37 to 2.91). No significant increase was observed in the control community (t = -0.422; p>0.001; mean = 1.26 and 1.37). Conclusively, the study has established CORPs intervention as effective strategy of improving rural dwellers knowledge and practice of growth promotion/ development, disease prevention, household management of common childhood illnesses and health seeking behaviour.
Description
xii,99p
Keywords
Childhood illnesses, Community resource persons, Rural communities, Child health, Survival, Child survival, Disease prevention
Citation
Olawale, Y.A.(2015). Effect Of community resource persons’ activities on child health and survival in two rural communities of ondo state.
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