Developing an Applied Theatre Training Programme for Community Health Workers in Sokoto State

Community health workers can significantly enhance their health communication effectiveness through training in applied theatre methods, and developing a structured training programme for CHWs in Sokoto State addresses a gap between health system needs and performance expertise. This study developed an applied theatre training programme for community health workers in Sokoto, Bodinga, and Tambuwal Local Government Areas, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A professional programme design methodology was applied, drawing on a skills needs assessment of 80 CHWs, structured consultations with 12 PHC coordinators and 10 theatre-based health education specialists, and benchmarking against WHO communication skills training models and applied theatre health education programmes from Kenya and Ethiopia. Assessment confirmed that 87.5 percent of CHWs had never received performance-based communication training and that 73.8 percent believed drama would increase their community engagement effectiveness. The training programme designed covers four modules delivered over two weeks: understanding performance for health communication, basic facilitation and role-play techniques, cultural adaptation of health messages through performance, and community performance planning and risk management. Materials are produced in Hausa. Expert review by eight health education and applied theatre specialists confirmed the programme's cultural appropriateness. Recommendations include delivery through Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, annual refresher modules, and outcome evaluation comparing CHW communication effectiveness before and after training.

Keywords: applied theatre training, community health workers, Sokoto State, health communication, drama methodology