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Published:
Feb 6, 2004Keywords:
Knowledge Practice Community Health Workers (CHWs) Cadres Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARIs).
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Knowledge and Practice of different cadres of community health workers (CHWs) as in Anambra State, Nigeria
Abstract
This was a comparative descriptive study of 300 Community Health Workers (CHWs) of Different cadres chosen from 10 randomly selected LGAs in Anambra State to assess their knowledge and management skills for ARI in children less than 5 years of age.
This study did not reveal significant intercadre differences regarding knowledge and management skills for ARI. Only in 9 (19.6%) of the 46 variables assessed were statistically significant differences observed. Again, in some situations, degrees of correct knowledge and skills were inversely related to CHW cadres. I.e. JCHEWs having better knowledge than SCHEWs and even CHOs. This might be possibly due to the fact that the JCHEWs are usually the first to see these cases when they present at the health centers and are therefore more familiar with their features and also necessary treatment modalities. It was also noteworthy that for important signs like chest indrawing, the CHOs had much better knowledge than the SCHEWs and JCHEWs. It was therefore suggested that CHOs manage only severe cases in addition to their usual administrative functions, while the lower cadre CHWs deal with mild to moderate cases of ARI.
Again, whenever training is planned, all cadres of CHWs should be recruited, since with adequate training, they are all equally disposed to managing ARI cases in particular and minor ailments in general.
KEY WORDS: Knowledge, Practice, Community Health Workers (CHWs), Cadres, Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARIs).
[Nig J Clinical Practice Vol.5(1) 2002: 37-40]
This study did not reveal significant intercadre differences regarding knowledge and management skills for ARI. Only in 9 (19.6%) of the 46 variables assessed were statistically significant differences observed. Again, in some situations, degrees of correct knowledge and skills were inversely related to CHW cadres. I.e. JCHEWs having better knowledge than SCHEWs and even CHOs. This might be possibly due to the fact that the JCHEWs are usually the first to see these cases when they present at the health centers and are therefore more familiar with their features and also necessary treatment modalities. It was also noteworthy that for important signs like chest indrawing, the CHOs had much better knowledge than the SCHEWs and JCHEWs. It was therefore suggested that CHOs manage only severe cases in addition to their usual administrative functions, while the lower cadre CHWs deal with mild to moderate cases of ARI.
Again, whenever training is planned, all cadres of CHWs should be recruited, since with adequate training, they are all equally disposed to managing ARI cases in particular and minor ailments in general.
KEY WORDS: Knowledge, Practice, Community Health Workers (CHWs), Cadres, Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARIs).
[Nig J Clinical Practice Vol.5(1) 2002: 37-40]
