The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72813

Erin E. Anastasi, MHS¹, Virgile Capo-Chichi, PhD², Adolphe Kpatchavi, PhD², Josephat Avoce, MS³, and Lahanatou Bio Mama, RN/CNM⁴. (1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Institute for Reproductive Health, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 310, Washington, DC 20008, 202-687-1392, anastase@georgetown.edu, (2) LEADD (Laboratoire d'etudes appliquées aux dynamiques de développement), Voie pavée derrière le Stade de l'Amitié, Carré no. 2022, Zogbohouè, Cotonou, Benin, (3) Organisation pour le Service et la Vie (OSV-Jordan), 07 BP 311, Cotonou, Benin, (4) Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF), Quartier Tranza, BP 34, Parakou, Benin

The public wanted to obtain a new family planning method from CHWs, not from medical staff. The public believed it was an easy method to use, and that their neighbors trained as CHWs were perfectly capable of not only promoting the method, but also providing it. The public had spoken, and they were right. A pilot study to introduce a new family planning method in Benin began as a clinic-based effort, with community health workers enlisted only to promote and sensitize the public about the new method. People interested in using it were referred to clinics offering the method. However, while some would be users of the method did make the trip to the clinic for the new method, many did not see the need to do so. Perceiving the method as nonmedical and simple to use, they preferred to obtain the method directly from the CHWs. At that point, the public empowered the CHWs to offer the method, and project staff realized the need to train CHWs to offer it to clients. Over the course of the project, the role of community health workers has become increasingly central and significant. This presentation will explore community reasons for preferring services of CHWs to those of clinical providers. The process of progressively training and enabling CHWs to take on increasing responsibilities, and the establishment of effective monitoring/supervision mechanisms will be discussed. Based on preliminary results, current successes and challenges - including retention, motivation, and skills building/maintenance of CHWs - will be examined.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Identify reasons for community demand for community health worker services
• Describe the evolution of community health workers' role in the introduction of a new family planning method (in terms of training, service delivery, and supervision)
• Discuss challenges faced by programs in maintaining motivation and high quality services among community health workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.