The role of community health workers in improving child health programmes in Mali.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mortality of children under the age of five remains one of the most important public health challenges in developing countries. In rural settings, the promotion of household and community health practices through community health workers (CHWs) is among the key strategies to improve child health. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of CHWs in the promotion of basic child heath services in rural Mali.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken using multi-stage cluster sampling of wards and villages. Data was collected through questionnaires among 401 child-caregivers and registers of 72 CHWs.

Results

Of 401 households suppose to receive a visit by a CHW, 219 (54.6%; confidence interval 95%; 49.6-59.5) had received

SUBMITTER: Perez F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2782322 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature