Abstract:
This study was done in the Assin District of the Central Region of Ghana. The aim of the study was to determine the practice of home-visiting in the district. Health hazards in the home were assessed, and how these hazards were addressed by health workers during home-visiting were observed. Interviews were conducted in 4 out of the 8 sub-districts for 100 household heads, 12 Community Health Nurses and 6 Health inspectors. In addition, participant observation visits were conducted while Community Health Nurses as well as Health Inspectors were doing home-visiting. Generally, frequency of home-visiting among the nurses was found to be low. The number of days or weeks elapsing between visits ranged from 3 days to 28 weeks. Quality of service rendered in about 83% of the homes surveyed was considered to be poor. Among the Health Inspectors, home-visiting was more regular but many health hazards observed in the homes were not addressed. Health hazards identified in the home included domestic animals living in close proximity with humans, in 8 8% of homes; scattered refuse 50%, stagnant water 45%, open refuse containers 78.3%, open water storage containers 70%, and home accident hazards 75%. The health hazards that were most frequently addressed by nurses were home accident hazards (open fires) and open water storage containers. The health hazard that was sometimes addressed by Health Inspectors was open water storage containers. A gap therefore exit between what is done and what should be done by health workers, both in terms of the frequency of home visits and the health hazards addressed during such home visits.
To close this gap it is recommended that:
• All health workers who go on home-visiting be given in-service training on this activity and that home-visiting be included in the curriculum and job description of all health workers.
• Other grass root workers who visit homes be trained to identify and address health hazards in the home.
