Assessment of Training Outcome for Community Health workers in Tapi District, Gujarat

Abstract

Background: Trained health workers are the most important key in delivering health care through improving understanding, knowledge, and techniques along with practices, performance, sense of job responsibilities and the problem-solving abilities. Training helps employee to provide understanding, knowledge, techniques, and practices. It helps to improve performance and effectively fulfil the job responsibilities in addition to one’s personal and professional development. Training also helps in better decision making and developing approach towards finding a solution for any difficulties.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge of CHWs (Community Health Workers) regarding postpartum family planning, reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health before and after administering structured teaching programme.

To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme by comparing the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores regarding postpartum family planning, reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health.

Material & Methods: Out of 60 Primary Health Centres, 15 were selected randomly. From these 15 selected Primary Health Centres , 2 Female Health Workers  and 1 Female Health Supervisor were selected as per availability and interviewed by open and close ended questionnaires. 5 Medical Officer and 3 Taluka Health Officer were selected as per availability and interviewed by semi structured questionnaires. Different methods of evaluation were also used like self-perception regarding training.

Results: A total of 53 participants were enrolled. The average age of the participants was 35 years ±5.7 years. The participants had an average 10 years of working experience. Knowledge mean score of various thematic areas of participants increased from mean score of 21.9 to 25.4. It was observed that after training post-test knowledge score showed significant improvement. Paired T test was found to be extremely significant (p<0.000). Out of 30 FHWs (Female Health Workers) interviewed, 46% were on a regular basis, rest (54%) were vacant. They took varieties of trainings. When they were asked about how much knowledge and skill they can apply practically in the field after training, 7% replied average, 83% said it was very good and 10% found it excellent

Conclusion: Participants in short course training in District Training Centre had significant improvements in scores on tests of knowledge gained. Widespread implementation of similar training under NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) may bridge knowledge gaps for various health functionaries but still whether shorter knowledge gains are retained in the longer term remains unknown.

Keywords:  Councillors, Knowledge, NRHM.