Abstract:
Background: Health extension program is an innovative community based program
started in 2003 in Ethiopia. It comprises five components with 16 packages and is
implemented by trained female health extension workers who are assigned in health
post. Model house hold training, community conversation and outreach services are the
main strategies for implementation of the program.
Objective of the study: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of
implementation of the family planning package of the health extension program.
Evaluation Method: A multiple case study was carried out from 2-December -2010 to
20-December – 2010 in Seke-chekorsa woreda, Jimma Zone. Qualitative data was
collected from five health post and quantitative data was collected from 374 women at
reproductive age group by community survey. Data analysis was carried out by EpiData
and SPSS software for quantitative data and qualitative data was manually analyzed.
Result: A total of 374 women were interviewed. 245(65.5%) of women were trained in
model family house hold training and from those who trained in model family
household 157(64.1%) responded that they have trained in modern family planning
package of the health extension program during the traing. Community conversation
was conducted in all five health posts interviewed and 239(63.9%) women responded
that they were participated in the conversation. 342(91.4%) of the respondents have
knowledge on modern family planning and 301(88%) of them were using some type of
modern family planning method. From 374 interviewed women 332(88.8) responded
that they were visited by health extension workers.
Conclusions and recommendations: The overall level of implementation of health
extension program in this woreda is fair. Model family household training was not
conducted according to the national standard and community conversation was focused
only on HIV/AIDS issues. Home visit activities were not registered. In order to achieve
the goal of health extension program health post construction should be completed in
the four kebele and there should be strict follow up from woreda health office during
model family house hold training and community conversation
