Abstract

This study examines the effects of primary health care education efforts in reducing the disease case rates of acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, malnutrition and measles in a rural Ugandan population between 1986 and 1991.

The intervention, a health education program offered by the Kiyeyi Health Center staff, consisted of a 12-week intensive training for community health workers and traditional birth attendants. Follow-up and supervision took place at regular intervals and continuing education was arranged every other year. Beginning in 1986, this training program was introduced in the first of seven clusters of villages, then expanded successively on an annual basis to include all seven clusters by 1991.

A systematic random sample (n=21,797) of the Kiyeyi Health Center clinic records was selected from all patients receiving treatment between 1986 and 1991. Disease case rates were compared: (a) within each village cluster prior to and following initiation of the training program for each cluster and (b) across all village clusters for the total sample and for under-fives during the study period.

A reduction of disease case rates was found across all clusters immediately after the start of the primary health care training program and up to three years following the intervention for the total sample and for under-fives. While there was a significant overall reduction of all disease case rates for all selected diseases for the total sample, this reduction was not specific to the timing of the intervention. Primary health care training efforts (including education of community health workers and traditional birth attendants) within the framework of a functioning health center had a significant impact in reducing case rates of selected diseases in a rural Ugandan population, particularly for children under five years of age.

These findings confirm the feasibility and appropriateness of the Mannerheim League’s role in facilitating the less affluent countries in the planning and implementing of PHC training for health personnel and support the World Health Organization’s proposed primary health care model in developing countries. This study stresses the importance of well-defined evaluation criteria and documentation of primary health care training and health education programs in international settings.

School

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Joyce W. Hopp

Second Advisor

Helen P. Hopp

Third Advisor

Christine G. Neish

Fourth Advisor

Jayakaran S. Job

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

1993

Date (Title Page)

6-1993

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Primary Health Care -- Africa -- Uganda; Morbidity -- Africa -- Uganda; Education, Medical

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xiv; 118

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS