Health workers' attitudes can create communication barriers.

In Sudan's South White Nile Province the development of a communication strategy for the diarrhoeal disease programme was preceded by the collection of data from community members and health personnel. A majority of health workers had only a limited knowledge of the community's methods of dealing with diarrhoea. Most of these workers had very negative attitudes towards mothers and home interventions. This information was vital for planning a comprehensive educational scheme for both health workers and communities.