When trusted, Community Health Workers (CHWs) can contribute to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through education. Issues of acceptability of CHWs by communities were explored through experiences gained in a qualitative study that is part of a cluster randomized trial in East Uganda. Initially, focus group discussions with key … [Read more...] about Acceptability and trust of community health workers offering material and newborn health education in rural Uganda
Research
Review of Community- based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in the Post-emergency Context: Synthesis of Lessons on Integration of CMAM into National Health Systems
Humanitarian crises are often marked by large-scale, externally funded, and vertically managed responses. National health systems, already weak, are often bypassed by international organizations in the interest of rapid response to save lives. There is growing recognition, however, of the importance of employing more sustainable approaches through existing health system … [Read more...] about Review of Community- based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in the Post-emergency Context: Synthesis of Lessons on Integration of CMAM into National Health Systems
One million CHWs in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2015
During the past 10 years, community health workers (CHWs) have emerged as a focal point of international discussions on primary health-care systems. Although lay community-based health workers have been active for at least 60 years, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 prompted new discussion of how these workers can help to extend primary health care from facilities … [Read more...] about One million CHWs in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2015
The current state of CHW training programs in SSA and South Asia
Although CHW programs are prevalent, little formal research has been conducted on CHW training programs or their effectiveness. To begin to address this a literature review was conducted to curate research regarding CHW training programs and curricula. This literature review identifies, synthesizes, and analyzes a wide body of literature related to CHW training in sub-Saharan … [Read more...] about The current state of CHW training programs in SSA and South Asia
What do we really know? An integrated analysis of current research on CHW training
CHWs provide critical health services to populations that lack access to services at health facilities. Well-trained and supplied CHWs can have positive impacts on health, but little is known about the adequacy, cost, or effectiveness of training models to prepare CHWs. This report analyzes key pieces of literature on CHW training and provides recommendations and next steps on … [Read more...] about What do we really know? An integrated analysis of current research on CHW training