Introduction: Twenty-eight auxiliary nursing students in Santa Elena, Ecuador participated in a training program that focused on how to investigate, develop and present health promotion and disease prevention information to underserved communities.
Methods: This 12-week program included a six week in-class lecture series followed by six weeks of community-based training (CBT). In-class instruction addressed research and presentation methodologies, while CBT served as an opportunity for students to practice their newly learned skills.
Results: The community health investigations conducted during CBT showed that Malaria, Dengue fever, and intestinal parasites were of highest concern and frequency than other health problems, and family planning and nutrition information most often requested. Evaluations indicated that all students thought the course beneficial because it will enable them to help their community (32%), taught them how to develop and present health information (21%), and will give them a chance to get to know and develop trust among community members (18%). Students would like to continue providing community health education if given the opportunity (79%); those who would not cited nervousness and lack of time as the major obstacles.
Conclusion: Given this rural environment in which basic health care, disease prevention information, and access to health services are lacking, a program of this nature is essential. When given proper and sufficient training, guidance and positive reinforcement, students with no prior health education or public speaking experience can be taught not only to successfully identify relevant community health problems, but to target specific population groups for providing health promotion education in a variety of community forums.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will learn about successful teaching methodologies and strategies for developing a train-the-trainer program in a developing country. At the end of this session, participants will be able to plan for and recognize difficulties and barriers when developing, implementing, and evaluating a community health education training program within a developing country.
Keywords: International Public Health, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.