Introduction: In Indonesia, most training modules for health paraprofessionals
have been adapted from existing foreign modules without assessment. In addition,
there have been few studies on training development for this group. We aimed to
develop, using a systematic tool, implement and evaluate a training module to
improve the competencies of voluntary health workers (cadres) in communicating
safe complementary feeding practice to caregivers of young children in Indonesia.
Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. A qualitative study employing
in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, mini-workshops, documentary
reviews and expert validation was used to develop the training module, following a
systematic approach. The module’s effectiveness for improving the health workers’
competencies was evaluated using a quantitative study with a non-equivalent
pre-test and post-test control group design that included 70 (intervention group)
and 68 (comparison group) voluntary health workers from a peri-urban district.
Changes in the workers’ cognitive, affective and psychomotor competencies were
tested before and after attending a 3-day training module (intervention group) or
a half-day event (comparison group). Results: A 24-hour learning session module
on communicating safe complementary feeding was developed and used to train
voluntary health workers. After the training, a significantly higher proportion of
workers in the intervention group than in the comparison group were assessed as
competent in the psychomotor and composite domains (psychomotor: 67.1% vs.
20.6%; composite: 74.3% vs. 36.8%; p