Analysis of the Effect of Health Education Activities on Selected Child Health Determinants in Two Communities of Ile Ife, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Child survival in Nigeria is threatened not just by the direct causes of childhood mortality such as the common childhood diseases but also by the associated child health determinants. Health education activities as part of community integrated management of childhood illness have the potential to improve these child health determinants. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of community level health education activities on selected child health determinants in Ile Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among 722 caregivers in two LGAs of Osun State, Nigeria, using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected from mothers of index children aged 0–59 months using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Vitamin A supplementation before the study was received by 89.1% and 79.8% of the children aged 9 months old and above in implementing and non-implementing LGAs (p=0.002). Amongst children age 12–23 months in the implementing LGA, 93.4% received DPT3, (91.8%) received measles compared with non-implementing LGA in which 66.7% received DPT and (64%) measles. Children in the CIMCI implementing LGA were three times more likely to receive DPT Vaccine (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55–7.98), and five and half times more likely to receive measles vaccine (AOR 5.56, 95% CI 2.76–12.54). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that community level health education activities have a positive effect on child health practices and determinants.