Training, knowledge and skills of community health volunteers on complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months in Machakos, Kenya

Authors

  • Susan K. Kivaya Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Juliana N. Kiio Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Eunice W. Njogu Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222004

Keywords:

CHVs, CF, Knowledge, Skills

Abstract

Background: Community health volunteers (CHVs) could help reduce malnutrition related mortality through advocacy of recommended complementary feeding (CF) practices. Low levels of education, inadequate training, and limited information on their competency in CF of children aged 6-23 months are some challenges these CHVs face.  The objective of this study was to establish training, knowledge and skills of CHVs on CF.

Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical design. A total of 168 CHVs were randomly selected. A researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge and training of CHVs. Observation checklist was used to assess counselling skills of CHVs on CF. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data.

Results: Findings showed that 23.2%, 66.1%, and 10.7% of participants had high, moderate and low CF knowledge score respectively. Majority (83.9%) of CHVs had fair skills. Significant associations were observed between CHVs’ CF knowledge level and their occupation (AOR=1.63 CI; 1.23-8.25), education (AOR=3.36 CI; 1.07-10.59) and source of income (AOR=3.50 CI; 0.91-13.40). Overall, only 8.3% of the CHVs were competent based on knowledge on CF and their counseling skills to caregivers of children aged 6-23 months.

Conclusions: This study rates knowledge of CHVs as moderate and concludes that it is sub-optimal to promote appropriate CF. Counselling skills’ score indicated that CHVs possessed fair skills therefore lack practical skills to execute their duties. MOH and other stakeholders should enhance training of CHVs.

Author Biographies

Susan K. Kivaya, Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

MSC student at kenyatta university department of Food, Nutrition and Detetics. Also  a government employee in Ministry of Health

Juliana N. Kiio, Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

Lecturer at kenyatta university department of Food, Nutrition and Detetics

Eunice W. Njogu, Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

Lecturer at kenyatta university department of Food, Nutrition and Detetics

References

MOH. Maternal, infant and young child National operational guidelines for health workers. 2013.

Bruno FS, Krishna CP, Linda BM, Prakash S, David PU, Junko Y. Effective of Nutrition training of health workers towards improving caregivers’ feeding practices for Children aged six months to two years: A systematic review. Nutrition J. 2013;12:66.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, MOH, NACC. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey; Key indicator report. 2014.

MOH. Maternal, infant and young child National operational guidelines for health workers. 2013.

Zohra SL. Systematic review of complementary strategies among children less than 2 years of age, the Aga Khan University Kachi Pakistan. 2013.

MOH. Community strategy implementation guidelines for managers of Kenya essential package for health at community level. 2007.

HRSA. Community health workers evidence-based model tool box. 2011.

Gilbert W, Bennett C, David W, Yvonne M, Peter O, Meshack N, Festus I. Effectiveness of Kenya’s community strategy in delivering community-based maternal and newborn health care in Busia County: non-randomized pretest posttest study. A Pan Afr Med J. 2012;13.

Korir J. Determinants of Complementary Feeding Practice and Nutritional Status of 6-23 months old in Korogocho slum, Nairobi County, Kenya. A thesis of Kenyatta University. 2014.

MOH. A manual for training community health extension workers. 2007.

Kigaru D, Cornelia L, Thabisile M, Macharia CW, Zipporah E. Nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices among urban primary school children in Nairobi City, Kenya: A KAP study. BMC Nutr. 2014;1:44.

Asmana S, Hassan S, Somiya G, Khalid H. Assessment of Nutrition Counseling Skills Usage for Dieticians and Nutitionists Working in Hospitals at Kartoum Locality. Imperial J Interdisciplinary Res. 2017;340-60.

WHO. Complementary feeding report of global consultation, Geneva: summary of guiding principles. 2010.

Purvi P, Kavita S. Knowledge and perceptions of ICDs Anganwadi workers with reference to promotion of community based complementary feeding practices in semi tribal Gujarat. National J Community Med. 2011;2:457-64.

Dos Santos F, Mintem G, Gigante D. The Community Health worker as interlocutor in complementary feeding in Pelotas, Rio Grande do sul Brazil. Cien Saude Colet. 2019;24(9):3483-94.

Mwoma T, Kisao P, Haycraft E. Experiences of incorporating support for early childhood development into the Baby Friendly Community Initiative in Rural Kenya. J Bri Academy. 2020;8(52):103-32.

Mieke F, Benade A. Breastfeeding, Complementary Feeding and Nutrition Status of 6-23 months old infant in Rural Kwa Zulu-Natal. South Africa J Child Nutr. 2007;20(1):16-24

Hall B, Sou K, Beanland R. Barriers and facilitators to interventions improving retention in HIV care: A qualitative evidence meta-synthesis aids and behavior. AIDS Behav. 201721:1755-67.

Mirkuzie W, Garuma T, Bitiya A. Community health volunteers could help improve access to and use of essential services by communities in low- and middle-income countries: An umbrella review. Health Policy and Planning. 2018;3:3-10.

Aseyo R, Muma J, Scott K. Realities and experiences as agents of behavior change; Evidence from an informal urban settlement in Kisumu, Kenya. Human Res Health. 2018;16-53.

Ngoma H, Ncama B. The role of Community volunteers in PMTCT programme: Lessons from selected sites in Zambia to strengthen health education in infant feeding and follow-up of HIV-Positive mother-infant pair. Afr J Primary Health Care Family Med. 2018;10(1):1665.

Walker P, Downeys G. CHWs ‘Principles of Practice’. Guiding Principles for Non-governmental Organizations and Their coordinated National Scale-up of Community Health Worker Programmes. Washington, D.C: CORE GROUP World Vision International. 2013.

Keding G, Waswa L. Diversifying local Diet: Nutrition education for mothers/caregivers improved the diversity of complementary foods in Western Kenya. Bioversity International, 2015;1-4.

Melvin H, Helmy H. Role performance of CHVs and its associated factors in Kuching District, Sarawark. J Environmental Pub Heal. 2017;9610928:1-9.

MOH. Health sector strategic plan 2013-2017, Machakos. 2013.

Margaret M. Performance among Community Health Workers in Njiru District, Kenya, a thesis of Kenyatta University. 2014.

Kithuka P. Predictors of Community Health Workers in Service in Makueni County, Kenya. A thesis of Kenyatta University. 2016.

Nzomo M. The changing roles of community health workers in health systems in Africa. African Med Res Foundation. 2013.

Downloads

Published

2022-07-27

How to Cite

Kivaya, S. K., Kiio, J. N., & Njogu, E. W. (2022). Training, knowledge and skills of community health volunteers on complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months in Machakos, Kenya. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(8), 3082–3089. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222004

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles