Behaviour analysis applied to the promotion of child health in rural communities

Abstract

A Primary Health Care package was developed and implemented following the principles of applied behaviour analysis. Qualitative focal group and in-depth interviews procedures were used to document beliefs and suppositions about children's health. We present a growth and development monitoring programme aimed at teaching mothers of children under five to measure weight and height and train them in behaviours positively related to development. In a second study a programme for the care of respiratory infections. A third centred on nutritional education. The first study used the procedures of fading and simple and complex discrimination. The second used those of shaping and modelling and the third diversified programmed instruction. Evaluation of results compared groups with and without programmes. Results indicate the use of applied behaviour analysis in the development of Primary Health Care systematises programme contents and produces objetive evaluation measures.