203175 A New Model of Population Involvement in Health Education in Armenian Communities

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:30 AM

Susanna Mkrtchyan, MSs, MPH , Department of Public Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Primary Healthcare Reform Project, Armenia, EMG/USAID, Yerevan, Armenia
Christopher J. Wild , OSC Ltd, Philadelphia, PA
Ruzanna Melyan, MA , Department of Public Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Primary Healthcare Reform Project, Armenia, EMG/USAID, Yerevan, Armenia
Varuzhan Avanesyan, MFA , Department of Public Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Primary Healthcare Reform Project, Armenia, EMG/USAID, Yerevan, Armenia
Armine Danielyan V, MD, PhD , FM Training Advisor, Family Medicine and Quality of Care Team, Primary Healthcare Reform Project, Armenia, EMG/USAID, Yerevan, Armenia
Anahit Demirchyan, MD, MPH , Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Center for Health Services Research and Development, American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
  
Background

An estrangement between the population and the primary healthcare system was observed after the Soviet collapse, leading to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases in Armenia. The increase in morbidity and mortality due to preventable diseases can be addressed through community mobilization (CM) and health education (HE).

Design and Evaluation Methods

To increase the awareness of common health risks and promote health seeking behavior, the USAID-funded PHCR Project in Armenia developed a strategy of health-focused community mobilization through using local NGOs to train Community Health Committees (CHC). PHCR develops training manuals and provides Training of Trainers to local NGOs. The NGOs then train CHCs on high priority health topics to be motivational agents in their communities and the long-term partners in community future development activities.

Program interventions have been evaluated using a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey.

Outcomes/Results

Total KAP score was higher in intervention as compared to control communities (57% vs. 54 %, p<0.001, independent samples t-test). Significant differences also were revealed in total knowledge (52% vs. 47%) and attitude (63% vs. 60%) scores. Considering the success of these interventions, the Ministry of Health included the PHCR model in its 2008-2013 National Primary Healthcare Development Strategy.

Conclusions

CM and HE is an important step in healthcare reform initiatives and should be implemented with the use of evidence based methods. Local NGOs and stakeholder involvement in health education through CM activities demonstrates an effective approach for imporving and sustaining the health seeking behavior of the population.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe Armenia’s experience in using community mobilization to improve the health seeking behaviors of the rural population; 2. Evaluate the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in community mobilization and health education activities; 3. Discuss the effectiveness of using adult learning and interactive teaching techniques in health education

Keywords: Community Participation, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Health Education Specialist on a primary health care reform project in Armenia. I hold an MPH.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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