Knowledge on health promotion approach among Public Health Midwives in a district in Sri Lanka

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Ottawa Charter defines Health Promotion as the "process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health". The National Health Promotion Policy recognizes health promotion as an efficient and cost effective approach to promote health in Sri Lanka. The Public Health Midwife (PHM) is the grass root level health worker responsible for promoting the health of communities in Sri Lanka. Their knowledge regarding health promotion has not been assessed. The main aim of this study was to describe their knowledge on health promotion and associated factors. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among all PHMM (N=364) in the Kandy District who were eligible, using a self-administered questionnaire. Level of knowledge was based on scores obtained for responses to close ended questions and case scenarios. RESULTS: Knowledge on health promotion was „poor‟ among 238 (65.4%). Incorrect labeling of other activities as activities using a health promotion approach was common 257(70.6%). Training programmes 285(73.9%) were the commonest source of knowledge while 95(26%) were never trained on health promotion approach during their career. The factors that were significantly associated with a level of „good‟ knowledge on health promotion in multivariate analysis were; experience in the public health field less than 20 years (p=0.012), participating in training programmes on health promotion (p=0.03) and experience in implementing health promotion programmes (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that PHMM in the Kandy District have a "poor" level of knowledge on health promotion and recommends increasing training opportunities and improving opportunities for application to improve the situation.