Enhancing Behavior Change Skills in Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Maternal and Infant Nutrition

Maternal and infant nutrition are problematic in areas of Ethiopia. Health extension workers (HEWs) work Ethiopia’s primary health care system, increasing potential service coverage, particularly for women children, providing an opportunity improvement. Their roles include improving maternal nutrition, disease prevention, education. Supporting HEWs’ practice with ‘non-clinical’ skills behavior change communication can improve effectiveness. This intervention study adapted delivered a UK-developed training Extension Workers working the United Nations World Food Programme The included behavioral local contextual information. Mixed methods evaluation focused on participants’ reaction to training, knowledge, change, use. Overall, 98 HEWs were trained. was positively received by HEWs. Pre-post evaluations found positive impact HEW skills, motivation use (all p < 0.001) women’s nutritional behavior, also demonstrated role-play scenarios. offered substantial learning about delivery. Appropriate cultural adaptation careful consideration assessment psychological constructs crucial future