title: Effects of selected socio-demographic characteristics of community health workers on performance of home visits during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in Busia District, Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Appropriate performance of home visits facilitates adoption of best practices at home and increased demand for facility based services.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional study in which community health workers were observed conducting home visits during pregnancy.  Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and the Consultant Quality Index (CQI-2 tool) on record keeping, use of job aids, counselling, client satisfaction and client enablement. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Relationships were determined using chi square and odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed significant relationships of age with good record keeping (p = 0.0001), appropriate use of job aids (p=0.0001), client satisfaction (p = 0.018) and client enablement (p = 0.001). Male CHWs were 1.6 times more likely to keep better records than females (OR 1.64 CI (1.02-2.63), while females were more likely to counsel and enable their clients OR 0.42 CI (0.25-0.71) and OR 0.29 CI (012-070) respectively when compared to men. Moreover, higher levels of education were associated with good record keeping OR 0.30 CI (0.19-0.49), p=0.0001; appropriate use of job aids OR 0.30 CI (0.15-0.61) and to appropriately counsel their clients OR 0.34 CI (0.20-0.58) than their lower literacy level counterparts. Experience of CHWs was associated with appropriate use of job aids (p = 0.049); client satisfaction (p = 0.0001) and client enablement (p = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socio-demographic characteristics of community health workers affect the performance of home visits in various ways. The study also confirmed that CHWs with lower literacy levels satisfy and enable their clients effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Health, Division of Child and Adolsescent Health, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Kenya. ndedda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ndedda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crispin
authors.forename: Annah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wamae
authors.forename: Meshack
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndirangu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wamalwa
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wangalwa
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watako
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbiti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004282:Documentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors