Assessment of the impact of community-based medical education of the University of Maiduguri on communities in three local government areas of Borno State, Nigeria: community leaders' perspectives.

BACKGROUND

The community-based training of the University of Maiduguri Medical College was expanded in 1990 to cover three rural local government areas (LGAs) located between 25 and 145 km from the University. This study was conducted between March and May 2000 to assess the impact and level of awareness of the training in the three LGAs in promoting the ideals of Primary Health Care (PHC) and community-based medical education, as perceived by community leaders.

METHOD

Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with community leaders of each of the communities.

RESULTS

Consistency in the recollection of what time in the year and for how long the students were in the various communities indicates awareness in all the community leaders. They also indicated that the programme has had a positive impact on their community's health, they would like the students to focus on specific endemic diseases, such as guinea-worm, hypertension, etc, and intensify community outreach programmes, such as home visits and health education. Most participants indicated that their communities participated in the programme by providing accommodation, feeding and other logistics on an ad hoc basis. Community leaders mobilized the communities for health education and other related activities carried out by the students.

CONCLUSION

The community-based medical training of the University of Maiduguri has increased community awareness of preventive aspects for various communicable and non-communicable diseases. In addition it has helped to encourage the communities to participate actively in supporting PHC activities.