Children improve health in their communities

Backgrounder

During the l980s, educators and health workers became more aware that children can improve health and hygiene in their communities.  Children often communicate and share more than adults, and often can read and write.  Many children also look after younger brothers and sisters while their parents work.

A new approach called “child‑to‑child” was developed during the Year of the Child, l979.  The goal was to improve health and reduce infant deaths by promoting good health practices among children.  Using activities to communicate information, the approach is now used in programs in over 70 different countries.  These range from structured programs in schools to the partici- pation of children in community health programs in urban slums.

The goals in the child‑to‑child approach are to:

1.         Teach children about good health and hygiene practices.

2.         Encourage children to take care of their younger brothers and sisters using what they learn about good health practices.

3.         Encourage children to share their knowledge with their families and their communities by being active in environmental projects such as tree planting and immunization campaigns.

Programs in different countries emphasize different aspects.  For example some programs emphasize community activities while others focus on teaching children how to take good care of their younger brothers and sisters.  People in each community know best how to adapt the concept to local conditions.

Here are some examples of programs using the child‑to‑child approach in India where the idea is being widely applied.

In one part of India local children work at a health clinic as outreach workers in community health programs.  These “mini‑doctors” take younger children to the clinic for examinations and check them for scabies.  They apply simple treatments under the supervision of a health worker and explain to the younger children the importance of cleanliness.  They encourage mothers to bring in their babies for vaccinations.  The children also get involved in other community activities such as plays and skits about diseases such as  malaria, storytelling, action songs, puppetry, and the sale of nutritious snacks to replace fried or sweet street snacks.  A study found that child‑volunteers played important roles in identifying 477 cases of scabies, 233 cases of vitamin deficiency, 979 cases of anemia, and l50 cases of tuberculosis.  They performed 289  demonstrations of oral rehydration therapy.

A program called “Mobile Creche” runs some 20 daycare centres on construction sites.  The staff teach health and nutrition at the day care centres.  Children share what they learn at the daycare centres with their parents.  An evaluation of this program showed that parents were accepting their children’s messages about oral rehydration therapy, and the bad effects of alcohol and chewing tobacco.

The programs offer opportunities for girls to develop self‑confidence and to be more visible in the community.  The program also can be helpful in disseminating important information to out‑of‑school youth.

In Honduras there is a similar program.  In the urban slums of the capital city, Tegucigalpa, a child‑to‑child program is being used to improve health and sanitation.  The children see the relation between sanitation and health through visits to clinics, and clean and unclean sites.  They are taught the importance of handwashing, boiling water, and maintaining latrines, and of doing these things the right way.  They prepare skits and plays for families and schools and draw posters to take home and post in their communities.

Potential users Schools, daycare centres, health clinics and community organizations that see children frequently and want to benefit the health of the community.