This study reviewed research from 2014 to 2024 on the costs and benefits of task shifting, where health tasks are moved from highly trained workers to others like community health workers, to help address staff shortages. While most studies looked at health costs and outcomes, many failed to consider other important effects like staff workload, access to care, waiting times, … [Read more...] about Are Economic Evaluations of Task Shifting Too Narrow in Focus? A Rapid Review
Task shifting
Expanding Community Health Worker decision space learning from a Participatory Action Research training intervention in a rural South African district
Community Health Workers (CHWs) in South Africa faced numerous challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A training intervention aimed to support CHWs in making local health decisions and assess its impact. The training equipped CHWs with skills to address community health concerns and fostered dialogue between CHWs and stakeholders. Despite systemic constraints like … [Read more...] about Expanding Community Health Worker decision space learning from a Participatory Action Research training intervention in a rural South African district
Principles for task shifting hypertension and diabetes screening and referral: a qualitative study exploring patient, community health worker and healthcare professional perceptions in rural Uganda.
The purpose of this study was to explore task shifting screening and referrals for diabetes and hypertension from facility-based healthcare workers to CHWs in Uganda. The study investigated perceptions of task shifting by conducting 10 focus group discussions and 24 in-depth interviews with stakeholders. Results indicate that CHWs are seen as a beneficial resource for task … [Read more...] about Principles for task shifting hypertension and diabetes screening and referral: a qualitative study exploring patient, community health worker and healthcare professional perceptions in rural Uganda.
“We just have to help”: Community health workers’ informal task-shifting and task-sharing practices for hypertension and diabetes care in Nigeria
A mixed methods study was conducted to explore the roles and practices of CHWs in the delivery of hypertension and diabetes care at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Nigeria. Surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews were conducted with CHWs and other local and state government stakeholders. Findings from this study demonstrated that, despite capacity constraints, … [Read more...] about “We just have to help”: Community health workers’ informal task-shifting and task-sharing practices for hypertension and diabetes care in Nigeria
Interplaying role of healthcare activist and homemaker: a mixed-methods exploration of the workload of community health workers (Accredited Social Health Activists) in India
In India, CHWs, also known as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), have been deployed since 2005. By engaging them in various healthcare delivery models, they have become essential to providing population- specific and community healthcare. This study explores the current workload of ASHAs and how to further utilize them in more expansive ways. … [Read more...] about Interplaying role of healthcare activist and homemaker: a mixed-methods exploration of the workload of community health workers (Accredited Social Health Activists) in India