African Fish Pathology and Health (Fisheries/Aquatic/Health) | 01 May 2007
Evaluating Community Health Worker Programmes for Diarrhea Prevention in Northern Ghanaian Districts: A Contextual Impact Assessment
G, u, g, u, M, d, l, a, l, o, s, e, ,, N, o, m, s, a, K, h, u, m, a, l, o, ,, Z, o, l, a, M, o, t, s, h, e, g, a, ,, M, a, k, g, o, s, w, e, M, o, g, a, p, i
Abstract
Diarrhea is a significant health issue in northern Ghanaian districts, where access to healthcare services is limited and community engagement is crucial for effective prevention. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights gathered through interviews with CHWs and community members. Data analysis utilised regression models to identify factors influencing diarrhea incidence and effectiveness of CHW interventions. CHW programmes showed a statistically significant reduction in reported cases of diarrhea (p < 0.05) compared to control areas, with an average decrease of 24% in the number of households experiencing at least one episode of diarrhea within six months. Community health worker programmes have demonstrated promising results in reducing diarrhea incidence in northern Ghanaian districts. Further research is recommended to explore long-term sustainability and scalability of these interventions. Health policymakers should prioritise CHW training, resource allocation, and community engagement strategies to enhance the impact of such programmes on public health outcomes. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.