title: Measuring the impact of health education modules in Cameroon, West Africa.
abstract: Each year, more than two million people die from diarrhea-associated diseases. Although there is a global need for safe drinking water, culturally appropriate health teaching is essential to behavior change. This study evaluated the impact of a health education program in a small rural community in Cameroon. Flash cards and a modified version of the CDC-KPC 2000 survey were used to collect data in 57 homes. Children who lived in households with working Manz BioSand filters were less likely to have had diarrhea in the 2 weeks prior to the evaluation. There remained a gap between health knowledge and healthy behaviors for hand hygiene and malaria prevention. This gap was significant in the diarrheal treatment (McNemar's test, p < .000). The interdisciplinary program and 7-year time frame were crucial to sustainability. Faculty and students learned the importance of pairing service learning and research that respect local cultures in fostering a healthier global community.
authors.affiliation: Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3314, USA. chaponnp@gvsu.edu
authors.forename: Paulette A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chaponniere
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cherup
authors.forename: Lillie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lodge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012423:Rural Health / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: Lamso tribe in Cameroon; community health; focus group analysis; transcultural health