This pilot study in rural Lesotho tested whether community health workers (CHWs) could screen people at home for high blood pressure and diabetes. Ten CHWs visited 687 households and screened over 1,800 people between 2022 and 2023. About one in four had high blood pressure, and one in twenty had diabetes. Almost everyone welcomed the service and appreciated being tested in … [Read more...] about Feasibility and Acceptability of Diabetes and Hypertension Screening and Diagnosis by Community Health Workers in Rural Lesotho: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
Lesotho
Feasibility and Acceptability of Diabetes and Hypertension Screening and Diagnosis by Community Health Workers in Rural Lesotho: A Mixed‑Methods Pilot Study
In rural Lesotho, a pilot study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) could screen people for high blood pressure and diabetes in their homes. Ten CHWs visited 687 households and screened over 1,800 people. About 27% had high blood pressure, and around 5% had diabetes. Community members welcomed the screenings and trusted the CHWs. The study showed that CHW-led testing … [Read more...] about Feasibility and Acceptability of Diabetes and Hypertension Screening and Diagnosis by Community Health Workers in Rural Lesotho: A Mixed‑Methods Pilot Study
Empowering Community Health Workers With Scripted Medicine: Design Science Research Study
This study developed and tested a new mobile health tool called Scripted Medicine to help community health workers (CHWs) in Lesotho take on more responsibilities in caring for chronic diseases. The tool uses clear medical guidelines and social communication scripts to teach CHWs both medical and counseling skills. Results showed that these tools helped CHWs feel more confident … [Read more...] about Empowering Community Health Workers With Scripted Medicine: Design Science Research Study
Costs and Coverage of Community Health Worker-Led Hypertension and Diabetes Screening in Rural Lesotho: A Cohort Study with a Cost-Consequence Analysis
This study looked at how community health workers (CHWs) in rural Lesotho helped screen people for high blood pressure and diabetes. Using a tablet-based tool, CHWs screened most of the eligible adults in their communities within six months. The program reached many people and was fairly affordable—costing about $17 per person screened in a real-world setting. The results show … [Read more...] about Costs and Coverage of Community Health Worker-Led Hypertension and Diabetes Screening in Rural Lesotho: A Cohort Study with a Cost-Consequence Analysis
The impact of the Lesotho health reform in the re-structuring of the village health workers program
This study examined how health reforms in Lesotho improved the Village Health Worker (VHW) program. Key changes included clearer roles, better monitoring, and performance-based payments. These reforms boosted VHW performance, strengthened community health links, and increased service use. The findings highlight that proper support and incentives help VHWs fulfill their vital … [Read more...] about The impact of the Lesotho health reform in the re-structuring of the village health workers program