Comparison of knowledge on diarrheal disease management between two types of community-based distributors in Oyo State, Nigeria

Community-based distributors (CBDs) have been trained and utilized to promote a variety of health commodities. In addition, a variety of different types of community residents have been trained ranging from traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to patent medicine vendors. A training programme for CBD agents in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria, provided the opportunity to compare the knowledge of two different types of CBD agents, TBAs and volunteer village health workers (VHWs). Although VHWs were younger and better educated than the TBAs, the two groups had similar levels of knowledge about diarrhea recognition, cause and prevention. It was common for the respondents to confuse diarrhea and dehydration in their answers about signs (recognition) and prevention, showing that at least they had some perception that the two conditions were connected. Overall knowledge results showed some gaps that may likely be a natural result of knowledge decay. The major lesson learned is that the type of CBD agent may not be as important as the fact that they receive follow-up after they have been trained.