Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Community Medicine

Background: Community health worker (CHW) can play a crucial role in improving access and coverage of preventive and curative health services in remote areas and can undertake actions that lead to improved health outcomes, especially, but not exclusively, in the maternal and child health which includes referral of woman or sick child to obtain the needed service from the Primary health care (PHC) unit. They also increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach services, community education and informal counseling. Aim:To improve the quality of outreach services provided by the CHWs among rural community. Subject and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on a convenient sample of 250 mothers attending the rural primary health care (PHC) unit (KafrBakar) in Giza governorate. A structured Arabic questionnaire was designed to collect data from mothers attending PHCU within the first month after delivery for immunizing their infants. Results:Our study revealed that, only (18.8%) of the mothers visited by the CHWs. Only (8.5%) of mothers had received antenatal care (ANC), only (30%) received postnatal care (PNC) services, only (21%) received child health services, only (45%) received family planning (FP) services and (79%) received vaccination services during vaccination campaign through outreach services conducted by CHWs. Among mothers who received ANC, PNC, child health, FP and vaccination services, only (8.5%, 28%, 19%, 32% and 17% respectively) reported behavior change.There was statistically significant difference in the mean score of FP services and vaccination campaign services among mothers reported behavior change due to CHWs visits, compared to mothers who reported no change (P-value 0.03 and 0.008 respectively)

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