Training and selection of paraprofessional home visitors for injury prevention in low-income neighbourhood

Abstract

Responding to the lack of information on the selection and training of home visitors in the injury prevention sector, this article evaluates a training curriculum provides paraprofessionals with the requisite knowledge and skills to deliver childhood injury prevention home visiting services in four low income neighborhoods in South Africa. Pre and post training measures were used to determine the effectiveness of the training. Measures of demographic and personality characteristics were used to examine the relationship between trainee characteristics and: 1) training outcomes; and 2)commitment to the home visiting project. Trainees' performance improved significantly for safety information dissemination and closure of the home visit, but there were no improvements for introduction of the home visits and gathering of injury risk information. Training outcomes were related to education level and qualities such as warmth and enthusiasm. commitment was related to qualities such as trust and preference for teamwork. Our professional home visits, may have potential for child injury reduction provided staff recruitment, training and support are adequately addressed.