Enhancing Behavior Change Skills in Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Maternal and Infant Nutrition
Open Access
- 10 June 2021
- Vol. 13 (6), 1995
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13061995
Abstract
Maternal and infant nutrition are problematic in areas of Ethiopia. Health extension workers (HEWs) work in Ethiopia’s primary health care system, increasing potential health service coverage, particularly for women and children, providing an opportunity for health improvement. Their roles include improving maternal and infant nutrition, disease prevention, and health education. Supporting HEWs’ practice with ‘non-clinical’ skills in behavior change and health communication can improve effectiveness. This intervention study adapted and delivered a UK-developed training intervention for Health Extension Workers (HEWs) working with the United Nations World Food Programme in Ethiopia. The intervention included communication and behavioral training adapted with local contextual information. Mixed methods evaluation focused on participants’ reaction to training, knowledge, behavior change, and skills use. Overall, 98 HEWs were trained. The intervention was positively received by HEWs. Pre-post evaluations of communication and behavior change skills found a positive impact on HEW skills, knowledge, and motivation to use skills (all p < 0.001) to change women’s nutritional behavior, also demonstrated in role-play scenarios. The study offered substantial learning about intervention delivery. Appropriate cultural adaptation and careful consideration of assessment of psychological constructs are crucial for future delivery.This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Association of ISMav6 with the Pattern of Antibiotic Resistance in Korean Mycobacterium avium Clinical Isolates but No Relevance between Their Genotypes and Clinical FeaturesPLOS ONE, 2016
- Food Taboos and Misconceptions Among Pregnant Women of Shashemene District, Ethiopia, 2012Science Journal of Public Health, 2015
- How do health extension workers in Ethiopia allocate their time?Human Resources for Health, 2014
- Human resource development for a community-based health extension program: a case study from EthiopiaHuman Resources for Health, 2013
- Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countriesThe Lancet, 2013
- Developing a method for specifying the components of behavior change interventions in practice: The example of smoking cessation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2013
- Cultural adaptations of behavioral health interventions: A progress report.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2013
- Theories and techniques of behaviour change: Developing a cumulative science of behaviour changeHealth Psychology Review, 2012
- Issues and Challenges in the Design of Culturally Adapted Evidence-Based InterventionsAnnual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2010
- Acceptability of behavioral staff management techniquesBehavioral Interventions, 1989