This study highlights the safety challenges faced by female community health workers known as ASHAs in India. Many of them work in difficult conditions and are exposed to different forms of violence due to night work, financial insecurity, and unequal power relations in their communities. The paper explains that these risks are linked to their weak position within the health … [Read more...] about Hidden in plain sight: Sexual violence against community health workers in India
CHW Challenges
Assessing Challenges and Sources of Dissatisfaction among Accredited Social Health Activists Employees
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are key to healthcare in rural India but face significant challenges, as seen in a study of 150 workers in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Major issues include delayed payments (70%), heavy workloads (92%), poor training (71%), and inadequate facilities (97%). Many report harassment (95%), high stress (89%), and tough working conditions (73%). … [Read more...] about Assessing Challenges and Sources of Dissatisfaction among Accredited Social Health Activists Employees
Factors related to the collaboration of cadres in stunting prevention
This study examined factors influencing collaboration among stunting cadres—community health workers trained to monitor and prevent stunting at the village level. Poor coordination and lack of proper communication tools have led to repeated and inaccurate data collection. The study, involving 63 cadres, found that trust, communication, agreement, and creating public value … [Read more...] about Factors related to the collaboration of cadres in stunting prevention
‘Our hands are bound’:Pathways to Community Health labor in Kenya
The traditional model for selecting Community Health Workers (CHWs) involves electing a willing, trusted, educated community member. However, this ideal is rarely practiced. Through life history interviews with CHWs in Isiolo, Kenya, five predominant pathways to community health work were identified: model, handpicked, shadow, outsider, and dispossession. Each pathway, … [Read more...] about ‘Our hands are bound’:Pathways to Community Health labor in Kenya
Prospects for the development of community-based care in remote rural areas: a stakeholder analysis in Laos
Despite progress towards universal health coverage, many rural communities lack access to healthcare. In Laos, community-based health programs aim to address this issue by involving lay health workers (LHWs) as CHWs. This study explored the challenges and opportunities for expanding these programs. Interviews with stakeholders revealed barriers such as geographic … [Read more...] about Prospects for the development of community-based care in remote rural areas: a stakeholder analysis in Laos