| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of services provided by community health workers on implementation of child health care Programmes in Kenya; a case of Mbeere South, Embu County. The objectives of the study were to determine how the referral services provided by community health workers influenced the implementation of child health care Programmes ; assess how provision of health education services influenced implementation process of child health care Programmes ; establish the influence of Social Support Services and Advocacy on implementation process of child health care Programmes ; to determine how provision of preventive materials and supplies influenced implementation process of child health care Programmes. The study adopted Cross-sectional survey design and targeted a populations of 346 households that had children aged 5 years and below and being served by 32 community health workers and 4 Community Health Extension Workers. Considering that the population size for Community Health Workers and Community Health Extension Workers was small, a census was carried out while sample size of households was determined using statistical formulae provided by Yamane for calculating sample sizes at 95% confidence level and e = 0.05, the final sample size consisted of 186 households (with children aged 5 years and below), 32 Community Health Workers and 4 Community Health Extension Workers hence this gave a total of 222 respondents. Questionnaires, observation schedules and interview were adopted as main primary data collection sources. Data was examined for completeness, consistence and reliability. The second stage involved data coding with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Thereafter, results were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that CHW provided sufficient referral services to mothers with new born hence high implementation process of child health services programmes. The study also found out that mothers in Mbeere South are well informed and advised on child health care and maternal healthcare from Community Health Workers and this could lead to low rates of mortality cases for new born babies in the area. Based on the third variable the study found out that Community Health Workers had delivered their best when advocating for community leadership support and initiative towards sensitising the people on the importance of safe pregnancy and motherhood and lastly the study found out that Community Health Workers have been able to provide Preventive materials, that is; immunization of newborns, family planning methods and nutritious food. Findings on the “Community Health Workers advice on seeking antenatal care” 2(1%) respondents strongly disagreed ,8(4%) disagreed,10(6%) were undecided,35(19) agreed while majority of the households 125(69%) strongly agreed The respondents were asked to state whether Community Health Workers provide information provision through newsletters and brochures, 3(2%) of the participants strongly disagreed,14(7%) disagreed,15(8%) undecided, 28(16%) agreed and majority of the participants 120(67%) strongly agreed. 4(2%) of the participants strongly disagreed with statement “Community Health Workers advocate for community leadership support for safe pregnancy and delivery of a healthy new born scale The findings showed that 8(4%) of the participants strongly disagreed with the statement Community Health Workers provide community based distribution of immunization of newborns,12(7%) disagreed, 12(7%) undecided,20(11%) agreed and majority 128(71%) strongly agreed. It was concluded that implementation process of child health care Programmes in Mbeere south Embu county Kenya was above average this implies that Community Health Workers had delivered their best. The study recommends Community Health Workers require continuous and regular training to be provided to them by the relevant authority providing training that would allow Community Health Workers to have as much flexibility in their skills as they currently have in their schedules may increase the effectiveness of Community Health Workers. | en_US |
