Feasibility and acceptability of training community health workers in ear and hearing care in Malawi: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the feasibility and acceptability of training community health workers (CHWs) in ear and hearing care, and their ability to identify patients with ear and hearing disorders.

Design

Cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Setting

Health centres in Thyolo district, Malawi.

Participants

Ten health centres participated, 5 intervention (29 CHWs) and 5 control (28 CHWs).

Intervention

Intervention CHWs received 3 days of training in primary ear and hearing care, while among control CHWs, training was delayed for 6 months. Both groups were given a pretest that assessed knowledge about ear and hearing care, only the intervention group was given the posttest on the third day of training. The intervention group was given 1 month to identify p

SUBMITTER: Mulwafu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5652500 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature