Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 16

Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering the following questions. Some of the questions address Learning Outcomes from previous study sessions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.

SAQ 16.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 16.1)

Match the following objectives with the descriptions below.

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. Geographical

  2. Social

  3. Demographic

  4. Epidemiological

  5. Qualitative

  6. Ethical

  7. Quantatitive

  • a.Data about hard facts and numbers.

  • b.Knowing how long it takes people to reach healthcare facilities.

  • c.Data about public health issues, for example the incidence of measles in a community.

  • d.Data about gender and age.

  • e.Data about people’s understanding and beliefs.

  • f.Being aware of how a local community works, for instance in its decision making processes.

  • g.Behaving in a good way and doing no harm; behaving with moral integrity.

The correct answers are:
  • 1 = b
  • 2 = f
  • 3 = d
  • 4 = c
  • 5 = e
  • 6 = g
  • 7 = a

You will be familiar with most of these key words. However in this session they appear in a very practical case study so just check carefully that you can see how they are used in this applied sense.

SAQ 16.2 (tests Learning Outcome 16.2)

Divide the following list into two separate lists, In List A, note ways in which the fact that Alemitu is local may help her in her role as a Health Extension Worker and in List B, note the ways in which being local might possibly create problems.

  1. She knows the local geography.
  2. She is known for other personal roles as well as being a Health Extension Worker.
  3. She is well aware of the social and cultural issues of the community.
  4. People possibly may think she is biased towards the interests of her own family.
  5. People may have concerns about privacy and confidentiality because she knows the people very well.
  6. She understands how community decisions are taken.
  7. She knows who the leaders and key people in the community are.

Answer

List A = 1, 3, 6, 7.

List B = 2, 4, 5.

Remember though that although the issues in List B need thinking about carefully, there is no reason why Alemitu as a professional Health Extension Worker cannot deal with them.

SAQ 16.3 (tests Learning Outcome 16.3)

Look at the list below. Put an A next to any issues that are about something other than ethics for a Health Extension Worker.

Put a B next to any issues that you consider to be unethical. (Some of the points will appear on neither list!)

  1. Being truthful to parents about any risks associated with the measles vaccine.
  2. Being careful about respecting the privacy of people being interviewed.
  3. Working out the number of children under one year old who have not been vaccinated.
  4. Vaccinating children without getting informed consent.
  5. Telling friends and relatives about what people have said in interviews.
  6. Working out how long to spend on the community survey.

Answer

You should have A next to 3 and 6, and B next to 4 and 5.

1 and 2 are part of the ethical concerns of a Health Extension Worker (or Practitioner) and so should appear in neither list. 3 and 6 are practical not ethical issues. 4 and 5 are unethical. A Health Extension Worker should always seek informed consent, which means people have the right to know the full facts and then make their minds up whether to go ahead. Health Extension Worker’s need to value privacy and confidentiality at all times. This respects people but also it makes a Health Extension Worker a figure of trust in the community.

SAQ 16.4 (tests Learning Outcome 16.4)

What is the difference between a community survey and a KAP survey?

Answer

A community survey is mostly about facts and figures, about how many people there are and their ages, gender, occupation, etc. It is also about people’s access to health facilities.

A KAP survey is more about people’s understanding, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge of health in the community they live. You need to know what your community thinks and believes.

Both sorts of surveys are vital in planning campaigns. You need to know the facts and figures and you also need to know what people think.

SAQ 16.5 (tests Learning Outcome 16.5)

Match the following management functions with the descriptions below.

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. Planning

  2. Organising

  3. Coordinating

  4. Leading

  5. Monitoring

  6. Control

  • a.Taking the responsibility for the project and being at the forefront to take people forward.

  • b.Setting up an aspect of the project so you are sure how behaviour has changed and how much it has changed.

  • c.Making sure that different aspects of the overall project fit together, including people working, timings and so on.

  • d.Determining a course of action through careful estimation of the situation now and where you want to get to.

  • e.Enabling the project through effective deployment of people and documents so everyone knows what they are doing.

  • f.Checking progress on the project to see whether it leads to changed behaviour.

The correct answers are:
  • 1 = d
  • 2 = e
  • 3 = c
  • 4 = a
  • 5 = f
  • 6 = b

Management is a complex process and the functions we have outlined do not always fall into a simple order. For example, sometimes you will plan several times during a project and set up several small targets at different stages. You will also need to assess if you have achieved those targets. Plans come in all shapes and sizes from the planning of the overall project through to who is going to interview whom this morning. It is a matter of being aware all the time of the stage you have reached and which function is appropriate at ‘this stage’ in the project.

Summary of Study Session 16