A Study of The WHO/Ghana Government Health Education Programme For Enhancing The Health Status of Women in The DANGME EAST District

ABSTRACT

This is a survey study on the contributory role of health education for enhancing the health status of vulnerable groups particularly women. It is a study based on the WHO/Ghana Government Functional Literacy Project for Women in the Dangme East District which is aimed at improving the health status of women through a triad approach of functional literacy, health education and income generating activities. Specifically, the study set out to i) identify the health educational activities being provided in the field ii) identify the health issues covered iii) find out the kind of educational methods and techniques used and iv) find out if there had been improvements in the health of women through their participation in the programme. A sample of 60 respondents were selected through a purposive sampling technique from four communities making up the project areas, that is, Akplabanya, Anyaman, Goi and Lolonya. In addition 10 respondents comprising staff of the project formed a separate sample of the study. The interview schedule and self administered questionnaires were the main instruments employed to collect data from respondents. The major findings of the study indicated that: - The health educational activities designed to attain programme objectives were mainly: i) educating women to send their children for regular weighing and immunisation through health talks ii) mobilising women to participate in environmental cleanliness and to practice personal hygiene iii) demonstrations on how to prepare weanimix/educating women on nutrition among others. - Health issues majority of the women were educated on were: family planning; nutrition; immunisation; pre-natal care, maternal care, causes and treatment of diseases, personal and environmental hygiene and teenage pregnancy. - The majority of the women had derived important health benefits through their participation in the programme. These iii included: i) a greater awareness of environmental and personal hygiene issues ii) a better knowledge of the causes and treatment of diseases and iii) improved nutritional diet. In spite of the health benefits to women, majority of them indicated that they would want much greater improvements in the following health issues: i) immunisation ii) family planning and iii) environmental sanitation. Logistic support for the programme was found to be inadequate. Other institutional difficulties also threatened the smooth implementation of the programme. The study concludes that the programme must intensify its activities especially in the area of family planning, immunisation and environmental sanitation. It also recommended among others the adoption of indirect and more innovative methods by personnel in delivering health messages and the adequate supply of logistic to support programme activities.