Steps
1) Greet the family and introduce yourself
2) State the purpose of the visit
3) Request the family to take you through their home and outside environment, observing and asking questions noting any health or non-health related issues
4) Offer counseling and services to the mother based on need.
5) If there is a newborn, discuss with the parents about care of the newborn (carry out postnatal care as required). Determine any support they need and provide the same as appropriate
6) Talk with the father and other adults
7) Discuss your observations on the environment and agree on actions to be taken
8) Conduct any demonstrations as needed e.g. hand washing, cooking.
9) Refer to the clinic for treatment/care of any issues identified
10) Agree and make referrals to other service providers e.g. social services. Accompany the family to those services if necessary or requested
11) Record in the community engagement book date of visit and all observations, services provided, care rendered, demonstrations conducted, and actions taken and agreed.
12) Receive feedback from the parents and praise positive actions taken.
13) Determine frequency of future visits based upon the household needs and make appointment for a return visit.
14) Record any referrals in the referral log book and follow up on the same in subsequent visits.
Counseling to be provided during a home visit
• Behavioural risk factors (SNAP)Kitchen garden training
• Hygiene
• Breast feeding
• Complementary feeding
• Immunization status check
• Child Health Care
• Basic hygiene training
• Family Planning
• Antenatal care
• NCD Counselling
Remember
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You are a visitor and must respect customary rules for visiting a house even if you know the family well
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Your role is to help the family identify and solve health problems and follow up on previously agreed actions – be mindful of the family’s time.
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The family may be poor, and it is important to respect the little they have and use it carefully in your demonstrations
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Use an appreciative approach over a critical one, highlighting what the family is doing well and helping them to see ways to improve. Avoid criticism.
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Kitchen garden is the use of home gardening products to provide nutritious balanced diet. It includes training on the planting of vegetables and cooking demonstrations to maximize their use