Abstract:
Background: Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in health services coverage to improve the
health status of the population but the populations still face a high rate of morbidity and
mortality. In response to the country urban health problem, the Government has launched Urban
Health Extension Program in 2009. Since it has launched in urban settings, no or little is known
about factors related with the implementation of this program in national or regional level.
Objective: To explore factors that affects the implementation of urban health extension program
in Jimma city.
Methods: This study used qualitative study design. The study was conducted from August 5 to
August 9, 2012. Convenience purposive sampling technique was used to select 13 urban health
extension workers, four health extension supervisors, and 3 kebele representative for in-depth
interview, and 12 women representatives for focus-group discussion. The data collection
methods were in-depth interview, focus-group discussion, and resource inventory. Qualitative
data were analyzed thematically and resource inventory results were described.
Result: All urban health extension workers were selected by woreda health offices and have
taken 3months pre service training. The program implemented through home to home visit,
training of model families and front runner health collaborators. Currently the program stills
not start the implementation in schools and youth centers. Most health extension professionals
said there was community resistance to participate in urban health extension program. Most
resources needed for the program available except material and drugs needed for emergency
services.
Conclusion and Recommendation: There were encouraging efforts of urban health extension
workers to implement the program based on the guideline. But the program still was not
implemented in school and youth centers, and there was community resistance on the program.
So the Jimma Woreda health office should be scaling up and benchmarking best practices such
as selection and training of model family and front runner health collaborators
