My research in Cambodia
In Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, International Relief and Development (IRD), a non-governmental organization, promotes mother and child health. In order to lower rates of malnutrition and anemia among mothers with children under five, one project distributed insecticide-treated nets to families in addition to providing malaria and dengue education. In my research during summer 2012, I sought to determine the effectiveness of IRD’s involvement as an NGO promoting mosquito-borne disease prevention and health education. I interviewed 43 households, determining net usage and health awareness.
Non-governmental Organizations in Cambodia
There are over 2,000 registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cambodia. It is estimated that 1,500 of those are currently active. They will provide anything from water sanitation and nutrition to education and human right's advocacy. NGOs are very prevalent in Cambodia and provide services and education for many villages in rural areas. They bring disease and health awareness to more isolated communities. My research indicates that the families I spoke with were twice more likely to be using an insecticide-treated net (ITN) and have encountered an NGO in their village than to have not encountered an NGO and still be using an ITN. My observations reflect the strong influence NGOs have in villages