Abstract:
Infectious diseases are a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality worldwide. As of
2018, the total world population of children less than five years of age was roughly estimated at
679 million. This study was assessed approaches, contributions, and challenges of community
volunteers engaged in community-based surveillance and immunization to reduce child morbidity,
disability, and mortality in the Gambella region. The study was used descriptive and explanatory
research designs. Quantitative and qualitative types of research approaches were used. Data were
collected from 158 respondents and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. One
hundred fifty-eight respondents were considered, and the data collected were analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings were revealed that 142(89.90%) of respondents
said community volunteers reach the community via house to house visits, 132(83.50%)
participants said Community volunteers reached the community during social mobilization,
125(79.10%) at social gatherings, and 75(47.50%) during mother to mother conference. 83.50%
of the respondents were agreed community volunteers contributed a lot to the community on demand generation 134(84.80), timely information 137(86.70%), reported 52(91.23%) cases. The
major challenges were the absence of health extension workers at their workplace
43(27.20%).Poor linkage 35(22.20%),inaccessibility 31(19%),workload at home
20(13%),mentioned as challenges. The dependent variable(contribution) was assessed for
association with certain independent variables using chi-square test knew community volunteers
(ꭓ2=6.75, P=0.034), ever visited by community volunteers (ꭓ2=8.11, P=0.017), knowledge on
vaccine-preventable diseases (ꭓ2=14.04, P=0.001), health education delivery (ꭓ2=11.23,
P=0.004), trustfulness of information(ꭓ2=55.46, P=0.0001) has shown relationships. It's suggested
that the community volunteers need continues refresher training, appropriate monitoring, regular
supportive supervision, maintain their engagement. Further, harmonize and strengthen the linkage
between the health care system and lead with tailored regulations and rules.
