Improving community health workers' knowledge and behaviour about proper content in malaria education.

OBJECTIVE To enhance knowledge and behaviour of Community Health Workers (CHWs) regarding adequate educational content of malaria. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was undertaken in 2003 in Sistan va Baluchestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran. Sixty-four CHWs were selected in both intervention and control groups. A questionnaire consisting of 17 open-ended questions was developed to assess CHWs' knowledge and behaviour about adequate content needed to be taught to the community. A multipurpose programme was held for the intervention group. Two follow-ups were carried out after three and six months. The data were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, and ANOVA for repeated measurement. RESULTS The knowledge and behaviour about proper content increased considerably after three months in both the groups. The knowledge increased in the intervention group significantly as compared to control group. CONCLUSION The results showed these simple and inexpensive interventions effect to improve proper content in malaria education. The findings highlight the importance of considering the proper content in malaria education when planning CHWs education programmes.