Developing and Testing a Community Health Educator Competency Model for Nigeria: A Delphi and Structural Equation Modelling Study

A validated, Nigeria-specific competency model for community health educators does not currently exist, limiting the standardisation of professional training and credentialing in the field. This study developed and empirically tested a Community Health Educator Competency Model for Nigeria through a three-phase mixed methods study. Phase one involved a systematic review of international health educator competency frameworks and 24 in-depth interviews with Nigerian health education experts to identify candidate competencies. Phase two employed a three-round Delphi technique with a panel of 42 experts, including health education academics, policymakers, and field practitioners from all six geopolitical zones, to achieve consensus on core competencies. Phase three tested the final competency model using structural equation modelling with data from 380 practising community health educators recruited across 12 states. Confirmatory factor analysis validated a seven-domain competency structure encompassing needs assessment, programme planning, health communication, implementation, evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement. All domains demonstrated good model fit indices and significant factor loadings. The study makes a seminal contribution to Nigerian health education scholarship and professional development, providing an evidence-based framework for curriculum design, professional certification, and performance evaluation. Keywords: competency model, community health educator, Nigeria, Delphi method, structural equation modelling