CARE GROUPS
The KIKOP Care Group cascade disseminates health information to large numbers of mothers in the catchment through group lessons and home visits that trickle down from intervention supervisors to 20 community-based Care Group Promoters, then to 209 community-based Care Group volunteers, who then teach it to nine to 10 neighbor women. ​
OUR MODEL
Care Group volunteers are respected and reputable mothers in the community who are elected by their peers. Our 20 Health Promoters have trained 209 Care Group volunteers, who reach more than 2000 women monthly in their neighborhoods. Care Group volunteers teach lessons on subjects such as nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, childhood choking prevention, malaria, HIV, birth plans and danger signs during pregnancy.
OUR PROCESS
KIKOP implemented the Care Group training cascade in the Matongo catchment in 2018 and was shortly replicated in the Iranda catchment in July 2019 and in the Nyagoto catchment in February of 2020. Care Groups offer a series of lessons that are intended to encourage health facility deliveries and facilitate health behavior change at the household level.
OUR IMPACT
This structure of health education has been proven to improve maternal health, child health, and nutritional outcomes. Through our innovative Care Group approach, we have seen a drastic increase in knowledge and health seeking behaviors among the households we serve. This empowerment through knowledge has reduced the rates of maternal and infant mortality in the catchments in which we operate.
“We see changes in our communities, women mind about sanitation and hygiene, about the health of their babies, how to make a baby's food and going to seek hospital services.” - Care Group Volunteer
“You feel proud of yourself, when what you have taught them, they understand and put to practice what they have learnt.” - Care Group Volunteer
Impact of Care Group lessons on recognizing danger signs