CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

Malawi

Improving palliative care access in rural Malawi: insights from a mixed-methods exploration of structural and social determinants

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This study looked at access to palliative care in rural Malawi, where many people live far from health facilities and have limited services. Most patients in the program were older adults, and many traveled long distances for care. Interviews showed that access depends on strong local leadership, reliable supplies, and support for community health workers who help deliver care … [Read more...] about Improving palliative care access in rural Malawi: insights from a mixed-methods exploration of structural and social determinants

Effect of healthcare worker vs. non-health worker delivered health education on modern contraceptive uptake among women in Malawi: a quasi-experimental study

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This study looked at whether women in two districts in Malawi were more likely to use modern contraceptives when the information came from health workers or from community figures like religious leaders, traditional leaders, peers, or the media. Among the 414 women surveyed, contraceptive use was almost the same in both groups. The small difference found wasn’t meaningful. The … [Read more...] about Effect of healthcare worker vs. non-health worker delivered health education on modern contraceptive uptake among women in Malawi: a quasi-experimental study

Mental Health Knowledge, Perceived Risk, and Perceived Stigma Among Community Health Workers in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda: a cross-sectional study

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This study surveyed CHWs in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda to understand how they view mental health, what they know, and how much stigma they see around them. Many CHWs saw their risk of mental illness as similar to their risk of physical illness, and women often felt more at risk than men. Knowledge scores were moderate, with common gaps such as not recognizing addiction as a … [Read more...] about Mental Health Knowledge, Perceived Risk, and Perceived Stigma Among Community Health Workers in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda: a cross-sectional study

Improving Contraception Outreach through Human-Centered Design: A Pilot Study of the Ndingathe (“I Can”) Intervention in Rural Malawi

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This study in rural Malawi tested a program called Ndingathe (“I Can”) to help community health workers, known as Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), improve access to contraception; especially self-injectable options. The program gave HSAs tools like bicycles, lunch allowances, and better planning materials, which helped them hold more and longer outreach clinics. Both HSAs … [Read more...] about Improving Contraception Outreach through Human-Centered Design: A Pilot Study of the Ndingathe (“I Can”) Intervention in Rural Malawi

Leveraging Community Health Workers to Improve Access to Maternity Care in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa

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This study explored how community health workers (CHWs) can help improve maternal health in rural Malawi through proactive home visits and mobile health (mHealth) tools. In Neno District, regular CHW home visits led to more women attending antenatal care (ANC) early and giving birth in health facilities, though postnatal care visits did not improve. A review of similar studies … [Read more...] about Leveraging Community Health Workers to Improve Access to Maternity Care in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa