Measuring the Impact of Health Education Modules in Cameroon, West Africa

Each year, more than two million people die from diarrhea-associated diseases. Although there is a global need for safe drinking water, culturally appropriate health teaching is essential to behavior change. This study evaluated the impact of a health education program in a small rural community in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of transcultural nursing 2013-07, Vol.24 (3), p.254-262
Main Authors: Chaponniere, Paulette A., Cherup, Susan M., Lodge, Lillie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group
Cameroon
Child
Child, Preschool
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - ethnology
Diarrhea - prevention & control
Drinking water
Female
Health Behavior - ethnology
Health education
Health Education - organization & administration
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice - ethnology
Humans
Male
Nursing
Nursing education
Rural Health - ethnology
Safety
Transcultural nursing
Water quality
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Summary:Each year, more than two million people die from diarrhea-associated diseases. Although there is a global need for safe drinking water, culturally appropriate health teaching is essential to behavior change. This study evaluated the impact of a health education program in a small rural community in Cameroon. Flash cards and a modified version of the CDC-KPC 2000 survey were used to collect data in 57 homes. Children who lived in households with working Manz BioSand filters were less likely to have had diarrhea in the 2 weeks prior to the evaluation. There remained a gap between health knowledge and healthy behaviors for hand hygiene and malaria prevention. This gap was significant in the diarrheal treatment (McNemar’s test, p < .000). The interdisciplinary program and 7-year time frame were crucial to sustainability. Faculty and students learned the importance of pairing service learning and research that respect local cultures in fostering a healthier global community.
ISSN:1043-6596
1552-7832
DOI:10.1177/1043659613481625