Socio-demographic Characteristics of Participants
A total of 106 participants comprising 50 women and 56 men, aged between 20 and 77years were involved in the participatory workshops. Participants were mainly NGO representatives, School Health Education Teachers, ANC nurses, Disease Control Officers, DHMTs, CHOs, Community leaders/Assemblymen, and opinion leaders (Table 1). Participants for the PW were from Kukurantumi, Achiase and Apoli in the Eastern Region as well as HoKpeta, Tsito and Kpetoe from the Volta Region of Ghana.
Table 1: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Participatory Workshop Participants.
Characteristic of Participants
|
Number of Participants
|
Community of Residence
|
|
Kukurantumi
|
18
|
Achiase
|
20
|
Apoli
|
19
|
HoKpeta
|
17
|
Tsito
|
17
|
Kpetoe
|
15
|
Total
|
106
|
Sex
|
|
Female
|
50
|
Male
|
56
|
Total
|
106
|
Age
|
|
<20years
|
-
|
20-29years
|
10
|
30-39years
|
61
|
40-49years
|
18
|
50+years
|
17
|
Total
|
106
|
Educational Level
Primary
|
1
|
JHS/Secondary/Middle School
|
17
|
Tertiary
|
88
|
Total
|
106
|
Marital Status
|
|
Single
|
28
|
Married
|
77
|
Divorced/Widowed/Separated
|
1
|
Total
|
106
|
Length of Stay in Community
|
|
<20years
|
84
|
20-29years
|
7
|
30-39years
|
4
|
40-49years
|
1
|
50+years
|
10
|
Total
|
106
|
Community Health Advocacy Team (CHAT)
Findings from this study suggested that the establishment of a Community Health Advocacy Team (CHAT) will be very important in facilitating LLIN distribution campaigns within communities in Ghana (Fig. 1). CHAT will be made up of significant actors whose influences are recognized within communities. They will include Community Health Officers, religious leaders, School Health Education Programme coordinators, assemblymen/women, community information officers, representatives from any of the security services, community-based organizations and traditional authorities. The anticipated role of CHAT would be three-pronged. These are community/social mobilization, capacity building and social and behaviour change communication which will lead to improved use of LLIN. We found that the CHAT meetings are to be best convened quarterly, preferably by a Community Health Officer. Although it was emphasized that CHAT’s efforts would not be compensated, there was a strong opinion among study participants that CHAT members be motivated tangibly or intangibly. For example, that they are given parcels of land where they could build (tangible) or be acknowledged publicly during community events (intangible).
Community/Social Mobilization
The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) in Ghana through its focal persons reach out to community members during LLIN distribution campaigns. These efforts could however be complemented by the CHAT since their positioning in the community make them readily available to support the NMCP. For CHAT to play this role creditably, its members must ensure the maintenance of NMCP’s programming and its benefits over time.
Capacity Building
Findings reveal that CHAT must be trained by the NMCP as part of their capacity building efforts. CHAT would therefore need to be trained along the themed capacity building areas (training, registration, SBCC, logistics, distribution, and supervision) of the NMCP. In addition, CHAT members would be given skill enhancing strategies in leadership, communication, and community mapping, as well as record keeping competencies.
Social and Behaviour Change Communication
The NMCP offers Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) as part of the LLIN distribution campaign efforts. This study however revealed that the SBCC efforts could be strengthened if CHAT is actively involved at different stages of the campaign. For example, there could be SBCC activities prior to the campaign, during and after the campaign. Some of the channels identified include the use of posters, community information centers, home visits, and in churches and mosques. This would ensure that communities are well sensitized before and after the campaign.