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The Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project was a joint effort of the Ghana Medical School, the Ministry of Health, UCLA, and USAID. A health education component was developed as an integral part of program inputs during the initial conceptual phase of the project. As a result non-equivalent experimental and control areas were designated permitting an assessment of program impact during a five-year period (1972–1977) for which baseline and follow-up study data were available. A new cadre of community-based workers (Health Education Assistants) was developed from existing health personnel in the country, and trained in health education and multipurpose health work. Although the HEAs were found to have difficulty in bringing about changes in health practices when other support services were not available, they did have measurable impact on villagers' adoption of family planning methods and a number of specific health practices.

A variety of child health and family planning activities, conducted by the Danfa Project in Ghana, were evaluated from a behavioral standpoint to determine features of programs which encourage participation by village mothers. Interest, intent to participate, and actual participation rates were measured. Contrary to expectations, activities which demand greater participation were more popular than more passive activities which involved lectures. Activities related to child health were better received than family planning activities alone. Barriers to participation which were best predictors of actual participation included “selling goods in town,” “cooking,” or “busy with housework.” That these were ranked by respondents as weak barriers suggests that it didn't take much to dissuade mothers from participation in those activities that they felt had little merit. Study findings suggest a need for greater integration of activities into village schedules, more systematic targetting of activities to high-risk groups, more activities demanding greater participation, and direct promotion of activities through influential individuals (community leaders, traditional healers).