Measuring the Impact of Health Education Modules in Cameroon, West Africa
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2013
Publication Source
Journal of Transcultural Nursing
Volume Number
24
Issue Number
3
First Page
254
Last Page
262
Publisher
Sage Publications, Inc.
ISSN
1043-6596
Abstract
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.
Keywords
community health; transcultural health; focus group analysis; Lamso tribe in Cameroon, HYGIENE
Recommended Citation
Chaponniere, Paulette A., Susan M. Cherup and Lillie Lodge. "Measuring the Impact of Health Education Modules in Cameroon, West Africa." Journal of Transcultural Nursing 24, no. 3 (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1043659613481625
