EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION: A COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION ON DIARRHEA PREVENTION IN SINDH, PAKISTANEMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION: A COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION ON DIARRHEA PREVENTION IN SINDH, PAKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/myhr1j50Keywords:
Community Health Education, Diarrhea Prevention, Health Literacy, Hygiene, Oral Rehydration Therapy, Rural Populations, SanitationAbstract
Background: Diarrheal diseases continue to pose a major public health burden in low-resource rural communities, particularly in Pakistan, where sanitation infrastructure and health awareness remain insufficient. These preventable illnesses disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially children under five, due to poor hygiene practices, contaminated water sources, and limited access to effective health education. Community-driven interventions tailored to local contexts are essential to mitigate these risks and improve health outcomes in underserved settings.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a targeted, community-based health education intervention in improving awareness and prevention of diarrheal diseases in a rural village in Sindh, Pakistan.
Methods: This participatory intervention was conducted in Punhal Khan Chandio Village through a four-phase framework: initial community assessment, educational content development, session implementation, and outcome evaluation. Risk factors such as poor hygiene (90%), unsafe water usage (85%), low health literacy (80%), improper food handling (75%), and suboptimal housing conditions (70%) were identified through informal interviews and observations. Educational sessions utilized a multi-method approach: lecture/discussion/chart-based teaching (22.7%), audio-visual aids (18.2%), and hands-on demonstrations (13.6%)—with emphasis on home-based ORS preparation. Sessions were delivered in small household settings due to infrastructure limitations.
Results: Feedback indicated strong community engagement: 90% of participants reported positive reception, 85% actively participated, and 70% asked questions during sessions. Women showed particularly improved understanding of hygiene and ORS use. Key barriers included lack of public teaching spaces, absence of digital teaching tools, school closures, and no follow-up evaluation due to time and resource constraints.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that culturally sensitive, low-cost health education can significantly enhance community knowledge and engagement regarding diarrhea prevention in low-literacy, rural settings.
References
Adhikari, T. (2024). Enhancing Quality of Basic Level Education through Demonstration Method. Triyuga Academic Journal, 3(1), 190-207.
Drummond, L. A. (2021). Formative assessment of primary school educators in independent schools in Gauteng to advise the need for an intervention for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Ezezika, O., Ragunathan, A., El-Bakri, Y., & Barrett, K. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to implementation of oral rehydration therapy in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review. PLoS One, 16(4), e0249638.
Holgate, S., Bird, W., Boyle, A., Butler, C., & Sigfrid, L. (2021). COVID-19: Preparing for the future: looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond.
Tariq, A., & Mushtaq, A. (2023). Untreated wastewater reasons and causes: A review of most affected areas and cities. Int. J. Chem. Biochem. Sci, 23(1), 121-143.
Tripon, C. (2024). Bridging horizons: exploring STEM students’ perspectives on service-learning and storytelling activities for community engagement and gender equality. Trends in Higher Education, 3(2), 324-341.
Cheng S, Gao L, Si S, Wang Y, Song T, Hao XY, et al. [Survey on diarrhea symptoms and diarrhea vaccination willingness of residents in Tianjin]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2024;45(12):1666-71.
George CM, Bhuyian MSI, Thomas ED, Parvin T, Monira S, Zohura F, et al. Psychosocial Factors Mediating the Effect of the CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program on Handwashing With Soap and Household Stored Water Quality: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Health Educ Behav. 2022;49(2):326-39.
Birhan TA, Bitew BD, Dagne H, Amare DE, Azanaw J, Genet M, et al. Prevalence of diarrheal disease and associated factors among under-five children in flood-prone settlements of Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional community-based study. Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1056129.
Nantege R, Kajoba D, Ddamulira C, Ndoboli F, Ndungutse D. Prevalence and factors associated with diarrheal diseases among children below five years in selected slum settlements in Entebbe municipality, Wakiso district, Uganda. BMC Pediatr. 2022;22(1):394.
Khaliq A, Amreen, Jameel N, Krauth SJ. Knowledge and Practices on the Prevention and Management of Diarrhea in Children Under-2 Years Among Women Dwelling in Urban Slums of Karachi, Pakistan. Matern Child Health J. 2022;26(7):1442-52.
Tadesse A, Walelign Fentaye F, Mekonen AM, Yasine T. The impact of Ethiopian community-based health extension program on diarrheal diseases among under-five children and factors associated with diarrheal diseases in the rural community of Kalu district, Northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):168.
Meki CD, Ncube EJ, Voyi K. Frameworks for mitigating the risk of waterborne diarrheal diseases: A scoping review. PLoS One. 2022;17(12):e0278184.
Biswas SK, Thomas ED, Masud J, Zohura F, Hasan T, Parvin T, et al. Formative Research for the Design of a Baby Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Mobile Health Program in Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Mobile Health Program). Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021;104(1):357-71.
Manaseki-Holland S, Manjang B, Hemming K, Martin JT, Bradley C, Jackson L, et al. Effects on childhood infections of promoting safe and hygienic complementary-food handling practices through a community-based programme: A cluster randomised controlled trial in a rural area of The Gambia. PLoS Med. 2021;18(1):e1003260.
da Penha JC, do Nascimento LA, de Sabino LMM, da Rocha Mendes ER, da Rocha SS, Roubert ESC, et al. Effects of Educational Interventions on Maternal Self-efficacy and Childhood Diarrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Matern Child Health J. 2022;26(7):1507-15.
Alemu F, Eba K, Bonger ZT, Youya A, Gerbaba MJ, Teklu AM, et al. The effect of a health extension program on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in rural Ethiopia. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23(1):836.
Solomon ET, Gari SR, Kloos H, Mengistie B. Diarrheal morbidity and predisposing factors among children under 5 years of age in rural East Ethiopia. Trop Med Health. 2020;48:66.
Bitew BD, Getachew A, Azanaw J. Diarrhea Prevalence and Associated Factors among Children in Azezo Sub-City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023;109(2):429-35.
Rao MS, Gaur A, Bharadwaj HR, Imran S, Tan JK, Abbas S, et al. The current state of pediatric gastroenterology in under-resourced nations. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025;87(4):2218-28.
Liheluka EA, Bali T, Lyimo E, Dekker D, Gibore NS. Caretaker's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding the Causes, Treatments, and Risks of Diarrhea Among Under-Five Children in North-Eastern Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study. Glob Pediatr Health. 2024;11:2333794x241288524.
Claudine U, Kim JY, Kim EM, Yong TS. Association between Sociodemographic Factors and Diarrhea in Children Under 5 Years in Rwanda. Korean J Parasitol. 2021;59(1):61-5.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Yasmeen, Farzana khan, Saima Ishfaq, Samina Ghouri, Muhammad Ali, Abul Aziz, Hafiz Muhammad Usman Abid (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
