Abstract:

Lassa fever (LF), a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa, poses a significant public health challenge due to frequent misdiagnosis and delayed detection, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Early case detection is crucial for effective control, but community health workers in endemic areas often lack the necessary skills. This study evaluated the impact of a training program on LF case detection and reporting among community health influencers in Ondo State, Nigeria, using the Community Health Influencers, Promoters, and Services (CHIPS) Program as a platform. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 60 participants selected using multistage sampling and divided into two groups: an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG received a 12-hour intervention over two weeks focused on LF symptoms, transmission, detection, and reporting, while the CG received a shorter program on monkeypox prevention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, during, and post-intervention using a validated questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.72. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 0.05 significance level, with effect size computed to measure intervention impact. Baseline results showed comparable demographics and similar detection and reporting skills between groups (p = 0.420). Post-intervention, the EG demonstrated significant improvements in detection skills (2.76 ± 0.90 to 13.93 ± 2.63; p < 0.001) and reporting scores (0.00 ± 0.00 to 0.30 ± 0.048; p < 0.001), with an effect size of 0.48. The CG showed no significant changes. The study highlights the effectiveness of targeted training in enhancing knowledge, perception, detection skills, and reporting practices among community health influencers, underscoring its potential to strengthen LF prevention and control in endemic areas.

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