This review looked at whether community health workers can help prevent and manage depression during and after pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Sixteen studies showed that CHW-led support programs consistently lowered the risk of depressed mood in the first year after birth, with benefits starting early and lasting up to 12 months. For women already showing moderate symptoms, … [Read more...] about How Effective are Community Health Workers in Managing and Preventing Perinatal Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Systematic Review of Quantitative Evidence
Maternal healthcare
Working in pairs: male-female village health volunteers supporting maternal health and community engagement in remote and ethnic communities of Lao PDR-a qualitative study
This study looked at how pairing male and female village health volunteers in remote Lao communities affects maternal health outreach. In areas where most CHWs are men, women often feel uncomfortable discussing pregnancy and childbirth with them. The paired model allowed female volunteers to support mothers directly, while male volunteers engaged husbands and community leaders. … [Read more...] about Working in pairs: male-female village health volunteers supporting maternal health and community engagement in remote and ethnic communities of Lao PDR-a qualitative study
Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study
This study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) could help identify and support pregnant women with depression in rural areas. CHWs were trained to screen women, offer simple counseling, and refer serious cases to health facilities. They screened nearly 1,000 women, and about one in four showed signs of depression. Most accepted and completed the counseling sessions. … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study
Leveraging Community Health Workers to Improve Access to Maternity Care in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
This study explored how community health workers (CHWs) can help improve maternal health in rural Malawi through proactive home visits and mobile health (mHealth) tools. In Neno District, regular CHW home visits led to more women attending antenatal care (ANC) early and giving birth in health facilities, though postnatal care visits did not improve. A review of similar studies … [Read more...] about Leveraging Community Health Workers to Improve Access to Maternity Care in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
Performance and Challenges of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) on Key Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Service Coverage in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This study reviewed research on how India’s community health workers, known as ASHAs, support maternal and newborn health. Findings from 38 studies showed that ASHAs help improve antenatal visits, hospital deliveries, and postnatal care, though the impact is modest. Their performance is influenced by personal, cultural, and health system factors. The study recommends stronger … [Read more...] about Performance and Challenges of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) on Key Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Service Coverage in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis