CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

Policy

How does context influence performance of community health workers in low- and middle-income countries? Evidence from the literature

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Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized as an integral component of the health workforce needed to achieve public health goals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many factors intersect to influence CHW performance. However, research seldom focuses on the implications of context for CHW or programme performance. Understanding the socio-cultural, … [Read more...] about How does context influence performance of community health workers in low- and middle-income countries? Evidence from the literature

Strengthening Primary Health Care through Community Health Workers: Investment Case and Financing Recommendations

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Despite the progress some countries have made in scaling up CHW programs, many countries that would benefit from strong CHW cadres currently have only ad hoc, sub-scale programs. This problem extends even to high-income countries that would benefit from CHW programs to provide cost-effective care and battle chronic disease. Countries wishing to scale these programs using a … [Read more...] about Strengthening Primary Health Care through Community Health Workers: Investment Case and Financing Recommendations

Achieving the Triple Aim: Success with Community Health Workers

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For decades, community health workers (CHWs) have played a critical role in public health efforts in Massachusetts to improve population health and to ensure that all residents of the state receive quality services. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has long been a national leader in supporting the CHW workforce through programmatic and policy … [Read more...] about Achieving the Triple Aim: Success with Community Health Workers

Financing CHW Systems at Scale in sub-Saharan Africa: Workshop Report

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This report from the One Million Community Health Workers (1mCHW) Campaign on the outcomes from its 2015 workshop, Financing Community Health Worker Systems at Scale in Sub-Saharan Africa, shows that there is a timely opportunity to invest in government-led scale-up of community health worker programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Released today, the report highlights the importance … [Read more...] about Financing CHW Systems at Scale in sub-Saharan Africa: Workshop Report

Exploring the context in which different close-to-community sexual and reproductive health service providers operate in Bangladesh: a qualitative study

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A range of formal and informal close-to-community (CTC) health service providers operate in an increasingly urbanized Bangladesh. Informal CTC health service providers play a key role in Bangladesh’s pluralistic health system, yet the reasons for their popularity and their interactions with formal providers and the community are poorly understood. This paper aims to understand … [Read more...] about Exploring the context in which different close-to-community sexual and reproductive health service providers operate in Bangladesh: a qualitative study