Improving mothers' understanding of the mother and child health handbook in Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

Background/Aims Mothers' knowledge of the mother and child health handbook positively affects their practice in child healthcare. However, there is evidence that their understanding of the handbook's contents and its purpose is limited. This study's aim was to assess the impact of a health education intervention designed to improve mothers' knowledge of the handbook's use and contents. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, participants were recruited from four selected health facilities. Participants in the experimental arm were given health training on the mother and child health handbook while those in the control arm received usual care. Data on participants' understanding of the handbook's purpose and contents were collected via questionnaire at baseline and, for intervention participants, after 9 months. Interviews were conducted with four healthcare providers, to explore their perception of women's understanding of the handbook. Data were analysed using the Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test and odds ratios. Results Participants who received health education showed significant improvement in knowledge of the handbook's contents, with the exception of the HIV prophylaxis schedule. This included being more likely to know that weight-for-height monitoring (odds ratio=2.222; P<0.001), height-for-age monitoring (odds ratio=2.308; P<0.001) and a recommended vaccine schedule (odds ratio=3.000; P<0.001) were found in the handbook. The proportion of mothers who recognised the growth monitoring curve also improved greatly (16.7% pre-intervention, 100.0% post-intervention). Conclusions Mothers' knowledge of the mother and child health handbook improved significantly after health education. Mothers should be given education to ensure that they can make full use of the handbook.