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dc.contributor.authorMedhanyie, Araya
dc.contributor.authorSpigt, Marcus
dc.contributor.authorKifle, Yohannes
dc.contributor.authorSchaay, Nikki
dc.contributor.authorSanders, David
dc.contributor.authorBlanco, Roman
dc.contributor.authorGeertJan, Dinant
dc.contributor.authorBerhane, Yemane
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-07T10:26:12Z
dc.date.available2013-03-07T10:26:12Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractCommunity health workers are widely used to provide care for a broad range of health issues. Since 2003 the government of Ethiopia has been deploying specially trained new cadres of community based health workers named health extension workers (HEWs). This initiative has been called the health extension program. Very few studies have investigated the role of these community health workers in improving utilization of maternal health services. A cross sectional survey of 725 randomly selected women with under-five children from three districts in Northern Ethiopia. We investigated women’s utilization of family planning, antenatal care, birth assistance, postnatal care, HIV testing and use of iodized salt and compared our results to findings of a previous national survey from 2005. In addition, we investigated the association between several variables and utilization of maternal health services using logistic regression analysis. HEWs have contributed substantially to the improvement in women’s utilization of family planning, antenatal care and HIV testing. However, their contribution to the improvement in health facility delivery, postnatal check up and use of iodized salt seems insignificant. Women who were literate (OR, 1.85), listened to the radio (OR, 1.45), had income generating activities (OR, 1.43) and had been working towards graduation or graduated as model family (OR, 2.13) were more likely to demonstrate good utilization of maternal health services. A model family is by definition a family which has fulfilled all the packages of the HEP. The HEWs seem to have substantial contribution in several aspects of utilization of maternal health services but their insignificant contribution in improving health facility delivery and skilled birth attendance remains an important problem. More effort is needed to improve the effectiveness of HEWs in these regards. For example, strengthening HEWs’ support for pregnant women for birth planning and preparedness and referral from HEWs to midwives at health centers should be strengthened. In addition, women’s participation in income generating activities, access to radio and education could be targets for future interventions.en
dc.identifier.citationBMC Health Services Research (2012) 12:352en
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 992593
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-352
dc.identifier.issn1472-6963
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/4902
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:no-uit_munin_4610
dc.language.isoengen
dc.publisherBioMed Centralen
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccess
dc.subjectVDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Health sciences: 800::Health service and health administration research: 806en
dc.subjectVDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Helsefag: 800::Helsetjeneste- og helseadministrasjonsforskning: 806en
dc.titleThe role of health extension workers in improving utilization of maternal health services in rural areas in Ethiopia: a cross sectional studyen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen
dc.typePeer revieweden


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