Demand for CHPs higher in rural areas

At least 35 per cent of Kenyans believe Community Health Promoters (CHP) are effective, a new poll has shown.

According to an opinion poll by Timely Kenya released yesterday, another 52 per cent said CHPs have an average impact while 13 per cent said they are not effective.

“Some 41.8 per cent said they have not sought any medical attention from CHPs in the last two months, 33.2 per cent said yes, 12.6 per cent are planning to, eight per cent said they do not trust them and 4.4 per cent said they do not know who they are,” findings of the poll have shown.

Sought services

It also established that the demand for CHPs is twice higher in rural set up at 64 per cent compared to 36 per cent in urban centres.

“In rural areas, Women and Children have sought services from CHPs compared to men. In urban areas, low income earners have engaged CHPs more than the middle class and the rich. Women and children are seeking their services more than men,” the poll found.

The survey based on healthcare and systems since the onset of devolution in the country was conducted on January 5 to January 20, through computer assisted telephone interviews and a sample size of 7,550 respondents.