To support quality CHW program design and implementation, USAID, UNICEF, the Community Health Impact Coalition, and Initiatives Inc. have updated and adapted the Community Health Worker Assessment and Improvement Matrix (CHW AIM) Program Functionality Matrix tool. This tool can be applied at district, regional, and national levels to identify and close gaps in design and implementation and, ultimately, enhance program performance.
Retaining CHWs is essential in the sustainability of CHW programs; yet, there is little literature on reasons for their attrition that might help CHW retention. This study measured CHW attrition and its predictors in a rural area in Kenya.
How will we address the predicted worldwide shortage of over 14 million health workers by 2030? At the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland in 2015, a 4-year US$100 million fund supporting Last Mile Health and Living Goods to train 50,000 CHWs in six countries was launched. This commentary details the goals and challenges of such an initiative.
In the Indonesian primary health system, health promotion is often not implemented by CHWs due to a lack of knowledge and skills. This study uses “most significant change” (MSC) method to evaluate the impact of health promotion training of maternal community health workers in Cianjur district, Indonesia.
The planned roll out of the Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) program in Uganda is set to be implemented in 2018. Based on the Ugandan Ministry of Health’s extensive experience with Village Health Teams in the past decade, this commentary addresses potential challenges that will arise in the implementation of the new CHEW program.
Healthy Fit is an intervention that uses CHWs to extend the public health infrastructure to reduce Hispanic health disparities in the US. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Healthy Fit in identifying the health needs of Hispanic Americans living on the US-Mexico border, and in helping participants access health services through CHW recommendations/referrals.
This study evaluates a community-based diabetes management program involving female community health volunteers (FCHVs) under the government run FCHVs program.
This paper examines the feasibility of incorporating distance mLearning (mobile learning) as part of a blended learning program in Malawi. Through questionnaires, CHWs’ knowledge and attitudes towards computers and mobile technology was assessed. The ‘Introduction to Information and Communication Technology and eHealth’ (ICT and eHealth) course was created to compare the effectiveness of traditional and blended learning courses in improving CHW knowledge and attitudes towards computers and mobile technology. CHW satisfaction and experience with the courses was also assessed.
Task-shifting among CHWs addresses human resource shortages that have an affect on HIV service delivery in low-and-middle-income countries. Despite evidence on the positive outcomes CHWs bring to HIV programs, little is known about the challenges CHWs face in HIV service provision. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining the ethical challenges that CHWs face in in low-and-middle-income countries.
Although there is much research regarding CHWs in low- and middle-income countries, there is not as much information regarding the value of CHW programs in high-income countries. This study examines the potential for CHWs programs in Australia to improve health equity and the challenges of integrating CHWs in the health system.
