Improving maternal and child nutrition services in Community based Health Planning and Services zones in the Jirapa municipality of northern Ghana- Challenges and strategies: The perspective of community health officers

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Abstract Background The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative plays a key role in delivering maternal and child health nutrition services in Ghana. This study explored bottle necks associated with delivering maternal and child nutrition services and strategies to address them at the CHPS zones from the perspective of community health workers in rural Northern Ghana. Methods An exploratory qualitative cross-sectional study design using key informant interviews involving the municipal nutrition officer and Community Health Officers (CHOs) from eleven CHPS zones was carried out in April 2019. Manual data analysis was done using the framework analysis approach in qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. Results Participants identified challenges and strategies to be first: municipal health directorate based which consisted of logistics/medicines; training; supervision/monitoring; and financial support/motivation/incentives and second: CHPS zones based which comprised of planning; home visits; commitment; and community meetings/engagement. Conclusion In order to improve maternal and child nutrition services at CHPS zones, there is the need to address certain systemic challenges at both the municipal or district health directorate and CHPS zones levels of the primary health care system. It is therefore recommended that the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders involved in improving maternal and child nutrition services at the community level actively engage CHOs to help address the systemic challenges.

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