This study looks at how unpaid community health workers (mostly women) in Ethiopia continued to work without pay, even as the government claimed it was moving away from volunteer-based health programs. The research compares two groups—one in cities focused on HIV care, and one in rural areas focused on general health. It shows that both groups were still expected to work for … [Read more...] about Moving away from volunteerism in community health? Motivations and wellbeing among urban and rural Ethiopian volunteers
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Effectiveness and uptake of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: a pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial
This study tested short HIV training lessons sent through WhatsApp to nurses and community health workers in South Africa. Most participants read the lessons quickly, and the training improved their knowledge and how they cared for patients. Patient care improved by 21% after the training. The approach was simple, well-received, and shows promise as an easy and low-cost way to … [Read more...] about Effectiveness and uptake of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: a pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial
Relationship of perinatal outcomes to the competence and quantity of contact with community health workers
This study examined how community health worker (CHW) behaviors impact maternal and child health outcomes in a rural home visit program. CHWs were assigned to either a standard care group or an intervention group with improved monitoring and supervision. Results showed that consistent home visits took 9–12 months to establish, with fewer visits due to COVID-19. More visits were … [Read more...] about Relationship of perinatal outcomes to the competence and quantity of contact with community health workers
Community-based follow-up of very low birth weight neonates discharged from a regional hospital in Cape Town: a descriptive study
Neonatal deaths remain a major concern in South Africa, with nearly half linked to prematurity. The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program supports very low birth weight (VLBW) babies through community health worker visits. This study examined VLBW infants discharged from a regional hospital, their follow-up care, health outcomes, and caregiver experiences. Among 169 … [Read more...] about Community-based follow-up of very low birth weight neonates discharged from a regional hospital in Cape Town: a descriptive study
Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a human-centered design-derived intervention to improve community health workers’ contraception outreach in rural Malawi
Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) in Malawi play a key role in expanding contraceptive access in rural areas. The Ndingathe intervention was designed to improve outreach by addressing HSA workflow challenges and enhancing self-injection counseling through a mnemonic and peer support from experienced users. During a six-month pilot, Ndingathe increased outreach clinic … [Read more...] about Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a human-centered design-derived intervention to improve community health workers’ contraception outreach in rural Malawi