The dramatic shortage of skilled providers creates challenges to the provision of both facility- and community-based healthcare services, including services for maternal and newborn health (MNH). Task shifting has been promoted as one response to this global health worker crisis, shifting tasks to one provider cadre and from another. The emerging global literature, as well … [Read more...] about Task shifting in maternal and newborn health care: Key components from policy to implementation
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A framework for integrating childhood tuberculosis into community-based child health care
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 500,000 children each year are diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and 64,000 HIV-negative children die annually due to TB. The true burden of childhood TB is unknown; children are often undiagnosed and therefore do not receive appropriate care. Childhood TB is often seen with other common childhood illnesses such as … [Read more...] about A framework for integrating childhood tuberculosis into community-based child health care
Strengthening Primary Health Care through Community Health Workers: Investment Case and Financing Recommendations
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
Care Groups I: An Innovative Community-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Resource-Constrained Settings
In view of the slow progress being made in reducing maternal and child mortality in many priority countries, new approaches are urgently needed that can be applied in settings with weak health systems and a scarcity of human resources for health. The Care Group approach uses facilitators, who are a lower-level cadre of paid workers, to work with groups of 12 or so volunteers … [Read more...] about Care Groups I: An Innovative Community-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Resource-Constrained Settings
Strategic partnering to improve community health worker programming and performance: features of a community-health system integrated approach
There is robust evidence that community health workers (CHWs) in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries can improve their clients’ health and well-being. The evidence on proven strategies to enhance and sustain CHW performance at scale, however, is limited. Nevertheless, CHW stakeholders need guidance and new ideas, which can emerge from the recognition that CHWs function at … [Read more...] about Strategic partnering to improve community health worker programming and performance: features of a community-health system integrated approach