Low Dose High Frequency (LDHF) training approach to improve competence of primary health care providers in context of maternal and child health services
摘要
ASHA (Accredited Social health Activist), a field level health care worker in India, provides maternal and child health services in community. ASHA’s knowledge and skills need regular capacity building for effective health services provision.
Objectives(1) To develop and implement educational training model for ASHA in the context of maternal and child health services. (2) To evaluate effectiveness of the educational training model among ASHAs.
MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted among the primary health care providers in a tribal district of India. The education intervention was carried out with a Low Dose High Frequency (LDHF) training approach at one Primary Health Center (PHC) selected randomly from the tribal district while the other PHC was selected as the control one. Key messages about maternal and child health were taught to the ASHAs utilizing specially designed module. The baseline and endline assessments were done to compare both PHCs.
ResultsThe class average normalized gain < g > was higher in intervention PHC (66.18%) than the control PHC (42.5%) for the cognitive domain. For the skill domain- class average normalized gain < g > was 32.76% in intervention PHC while it was 16.77% in control PHC, lower than the cut-off value of < g > as 30%, indicating the educational intervention is effective in improving both cognitive as well as skill domain.
ConclusionThis tailor-made, low-cost educational intervention with LDHF approach to train field-level health workers by utilizing existing resources has proven effective in improving cognitive and skill learning for providing maternal and child health services.