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Pakistan’s Community-based Lady Health Workers (LHWs): Change Agents for Child Health?

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Listed:
  • Shehla Zaidi
  • Maryam Huda
  • Ammarah Ali
  • Xaher Gul
  • Rawshan Jabeen
  • Mashal Murad Shah

Abstract

BACKGROUND- In Pakistan’s high child mortality context, a large-scale Lady Health Worker (LHW) Program raises the need to look at whether LHWs are delivering their key mandate as agents of change for child health. This study examines the quantity and quality of LHW interactions with mothers for child health and their impact on mothers' knowledge and child health practices. METHODS- 1,968 mothers of children <2 years (n=1,968) were interviewed through a cross-sectional survey in two rural districts of Pakistan focusing on immunization, nutrition, and early child illness. Data on frequency of LHW’s visits; services provided, specific services related to routine immunization (RI), nutrition and child illness, and maternal knowledge and practices were analyzed using median values for continuous variables and counts and percentages for categorical data. RESULTS- Monthly visits by LHW were reported by only 63% of LHW covered households. During LHW monthly encounters, Oral Polio drops administration was most frequently reported (77%), followed by RI (59%), breastfeeding counseling (20%), child illness management advice (18%), growth monitoring (9.5%), while none reported receiving hygiene counseling. Although LHWs were reported to be the main information source for child health; limited impact of LHW-mother interaction was seen on maternal knowledge and practices- 76% mothers reported receiving ORS packets from LHWs but only 27% knew of correct usage, only 34% washed hands before feeding children, less than a third could correctly recall early signs of pneumonia and awareness of Vaccine Preventable Diseases other than Polio ranged from 42%-9% only. CONCLUSION- Although LHWs are main information source for child health services but infrequent, poor quality household encounters indicate ineffective delivery on the key mandate of community-based child health. Policy debate instead of focusing on scaling up or downsizing the program, should prioritize quality and supervision to improve value for money of a critical community resource.

Suggested Citation

  • Shehla Zaidi & Maryam Huda & Ammarah Ali & Xaher Gul & Rawshan Jabeen & Mashal Murad Shah, 2020. "Pakistan’s Community-based Lady Health Workers (LHWs): Change Agents for Child Health?," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(11), pages 177-187, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:gjhsjl:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:177-187
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Government of India, 2017. "National Health Policy 2017," Working Papers id:11664, eSocialSciences.
    2. Jennifer L Brenner & Jerome Kabakyenga & Teddy Kyomuhangi & Kathryn A Wotton & Carolyn Pim & Moses Ntaro & Fred Norman Bagenda & Ndaruhutse Ruzazaaza Gad & John Godel & James Kayizzi & Douglas McMilla, 2011. "Can Volunteer Community Health Workers Decrease Child Morbidity and Mortality in Southwestern Uganda? An Impact Evaluation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(12), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Shahid & Waqar Ameer & Najma Iqbal Malik & Muhammad Babar Alam & Farooq Ahmed & Madeeha Gohar Qureshi & Huiping Zhao & Juan Yang & Sidra Zia, 2022. "Distance to Healthcare Facility and Lady Health Workers’ Visits Reduce Malnutrition in under Five Children: A Case Study of a Disadvantaged Rural District in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.

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    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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