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Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Program in Rural Kenya

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Listed:
  • Mary B Adam
  • Maria Dillmann
  • Mei-kuang Chen
  • Simon Mbugua
  • Joram Ndung’u
  • Priscilla Mumbi
  • Eunice Waweru
  • Peter Meissner

Abstract

Background: Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) form an important element of many health systems, and in Kenya these volunteers are the foundation for promoting behavior change through health education, earlier case identification, and timely referral to trained health care providers. This study examines the effectiveness of a community health worker project conducted in rural Kenya that sought to promote improved knowledge of maternal newborn health and to increase deliveries under skilled attendance. Methods: The study utilized a quasi-experimental nonequivalent design that examined relevant demographic items and knowledge about maternal and newborn health combined with a comprehensive retrospective birth history of women’s children using oral interviews of women who were exposed to health messages delivered by CHWs and those who were not exposed. The project trained CHWs in three geographically distinct areas. Results: Mean knowledge scores were higher in those women who reported being exposed to the health messages from CHWs, Eburru 32.3 versus 29.2, Kinale 21.8 vs 20.7, Nyakio 26.6 vs 23.8. The number of women delivering under skilled attendance was higher for those mothers who reported exposure to one or more health messages, compared to those who did not. The percentage of facility deliveries for women exposed to health messages by CHWs versus non-exposed was: Eburru 46% versus 19%; Kinale 94% versus 73%: and Nyakio 80% versus 78%. Conclusion: The delivery of health messages by CHWs increased knowledge of maternal and newborn care among women in the local community and encouraged deliveries under skilled attendance.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary B Adam & Maria Dillmann & Mei-kuang Chen & Simon Mbugua & Joram Ndung’u & Priscilla Mumbi & Eunice Waweru & Peter Meissner, 2014. "Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Program in Rural Kenya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-8, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0104027
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olang'o, Charles Omondi & Nyamongo, Isaac K. & Aagaard-Hansen, Jens, 2010. "Staff attrition among community health workers in home-based care programmes for people living with HIV and AIDS in western Kenya," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(2-3), pages 232-237, October.
    2. David Osrin & Nirmala Nair & Prasanta Tripathy & Audrey Prost & Anthony Costello, 2010. "Improving Newborn Survival in Low-Income Countries: Community-Based Approaches and Lessons from South Asia," Working Papers id:2480, eSocialSciences.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edson Serván‐Mori & Miguel Ángel Mendoza & Carlos Chivardi & Carlos Pineda‐Antúnez & Roxana Rodríguez‐Franco & Gustavo Nigenda, 2019. "A spatio‐temporal cluster analysis of technical efficiency in the production of outpatient maternal health services and its structural correlates in México," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 1417-1436, October.
    2. Friday E. Okonofua & Lorretta F. C. Ntoimo & Oluwadamilola A. Adejumo & Wilson Imongan & Rosemary N. Ogu & Seun O. Anjorin, 2022. "Assessment of Interventions in Primary Health Care for Improved Maternal, New-born and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.

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