Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have played a critical role in the success of USAID in Madagascar’s health sector. As CHVs, they can provide basic health care services and health education at the community level, thus improving health care access in remote regions. This report highlights the successes and challenges of USAID/Madagascar’s investment in CHVs. … [Read more...] about USAID/Madagascar and Community Health Volunteers: Working in Partnership to Achieve Health Goals
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Retention of health workers in rural Sierra Leone: findings from life histories
In light of the health worker shortage due to the post-conflict period and Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, it is crucially important to understand different motivation factors for rural health workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives and Community Health Workers. Researchers conducted 23 participatory life histories with health workers, revealing that the context of the rural … [Read more...] about Retention of health workers in rural Sierra Leone: findings from life histories
Study protocol: realist evaluation of effectiveness and sustainability of a community health workers programme in improving maternal and child health in Nigeria
Community health workers can increase access to, and coverage of, health services – particularly maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries. This 5 year study aimed to evaluate the Nigerian CHW scheme using a mixed-methods realist approach will make an important contribution to health systems strengthening in Nigeria. … [Read more...] about Study protocol: realist evaluation of effectiveness and sustainability of a community health workers programme in improving maternal and child health in Nigeria
Effectiveness of the Home Based Life Saving Skills training by community health workers on knowledge of danger signs, birth preparedness, complication readiness and facility delivery, among women in Rural Tanzania
Community health workers in Tanzania are trained in Home Based Life Saving Skills to educate communities on danger signs, birth preparedness, and complication readiness regarding childbirth. However, maternal mortality is currently greater than 400 per 100,000 live births, leading to the question of the effectiveness of this training program. Using a quasi-experimental study … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of the Home Based Life Saving Skills training by community health workers on knowledge of danger signs, birth preparedness, complication readiness and facility delivery, among women in Rural Tanzania
Monitoring iCCM referral systems: Bugoye Integrated Community Case Management Initiative (BIMI) in Uganda
Integrated community case management (iCCM) trains village health workers (VHWs) to provide treatment to the most common childhood diseases in Uganda, including malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. One of iCCM’s key features is a referral system for treatment at health facilities, but these referrals are difficult to monitor. A study was conducted to evaluate the referral system … [Read more...] about Monitoring iCCM referral systems: Bugoye Integrated Community Case Management Initiative (BIMI) in Uganda