Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Impact of a bottom-up community engagement intervention on maternal and child health services utilization in Ghana: a cluster randomised trial.
Alhassan, Robert Kaba; Nketiah-Amponsah, Edward; Ayanore, Martin Amogre; Afaya, Agani; Salia, Solomon Mohammed; Milipaak, Japiong; Ansah, Evelyn Korkor; Owusu-Agyei, Seth.
Affiliation
  • Alhassan RK; Department of Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences Ho, PMB 31, Volta, Region Ho, Ghana. arkabason@gmail.com.
  • Nketiah-Amponsah E; Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
  • Ayanore MA; Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana.
  • Afaya A; Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
  • Salia SM; Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
  • Milipaak J; Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
  • Ansah EK; Institute of Health Research (IHR), University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
  • Owusu-Agyei S; Institute of Health Research (IHR), University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
BMC Public Health ; 19(1): 791, 2019 Jun 21.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31226977
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Ghana is among African countries not likely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) three (3) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 per 100,000 live births by the year 2030 if maternal and child health services utilization are not improved. Community engagement in health is therefore advocated to help address this challenge. This study evaluated the impact of a community engagement intervention on maternal and child health services utilization in Ghana.

METHODS:

This study was a cluster randomised trial among primary healthcare facilities (n = 64) in the Greater Accra and Western regions in Ghana. Multivariate multiple regression analysis and paired-ttest were used to determine impact of the community engagement intervention on maternal and child health indicators at baseline and follow-up.

RESULTS:

Intervention health facilities recorded significant improvements over control facilities in terms of average spontaneous vaginal deliveries per month per health facility (baseline mean = 15, follow-up mean = 30, p = 0.0013); child immunizations (baseline mean = 270, follow-up mean = 455, p = 0.0642) and female condoms distribution (baseline mean = 0, follow-up mean = 2, p = 0.0628). Other improved indicators in intervention facilities were average number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests for non-pregnant women (baseline mean = 55, follow-up 104, p = 0.0213); HIV tests for pregnant women (baseline mean = 40, follow-up mean = 119, p = 0.0067) and malaria tests (baseline mean = 43, follow-up mean = 380, p = 0.0174). Control facilities however performed better than intervention facilities in terms of general laboratory tests, voluntary counselling and testing, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, male child circumcisions and other minor surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION:

Community engagement in health has the potential of improving utilization of maternal and child health services. There is the need for multi-stakeholder dialogues on complementing existing quality improvement interventions with community engagement strategies.
Subject(s)
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Community Participation / Maternal-Child Health Services / Health Promotion Type of study: Clinical_trials / Evaluation_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies Aspects: Implementation_research Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn / Pregnancy Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: BMC Public Health Journal subject: SAUDE PUBLICA Year: 2019 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Ghana Publication country: ENGLAND / ESCOCIA / GB / GREAT BRITAIN / INGLATERRA / REINO UNIDO / SCOTLAND / UK / UNITED KINGDOM

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Community Participation / Maternal-Child Health Services / Health Promotion Type of study: Clinical_trials / Evaluation_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies Aspects: Implementation_research Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn / Pregnancy Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: BMC Public Health Journal subject: SAUDE PUBLICA Year: 2019 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Ghana Publication country: ENGLAND / ESCOCIA / GB / GREAT BRITAIN / INGLATERRA / REINO UNIDO / SCOTLAND / UK / UNITED KINGDOM