A conceptual model for empowerment of the female community health volunteers in Nepal.

CONTEXT: The existing top-down approach of the training is not appropriate to empower the community health volunteers to produce a sustainable change in their performance.
OBJECTIVE: To propose a conceptual model that relies on Freire's theory of empowerment education and the participatory action research methodology to empower the female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to increase their consciousness, competence and confidence in performing their job responsibilities.
METHOD: The model explains the empowerment phenomenon as a process and outcome. As a process it occurs in the form of repeated reinforcement cycles with alternating activities of action and reflection and includes developing awareness, skills and confidence among FCHVs through small group activities. As an outcome, it results in the change in FCHVs' performance in increasing contraceptive acceptance among the rural women of reproductive age group.
CONCLUSION: It is hoped that empowerment of FCHVs will bring sustainable change in their performance and will consequently produce notable improvement in the health of women and children in particular and in the community in general.