Impacts of health system physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated by assigning tasks that require limited specialized knowledge to non-physician healthcare workers, including CHWs. Joseph Maria and colleagues reviewed 46 research studies to understand how this so-called “task-sharing” is applied to manage type 2 diabetes in LMICs. … [Read more...] about Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Task shifting
Evaluation of a training program on primary eye care for an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in an urban district
This study examined the results of training Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) as primary eye care (PEC) workers. ASHAs performed eye screenings and referred patients to optometrists. After program implementation, optometrists saw an average increase in monthly outpatient department visits. The study concludes that, with proper training, ASHAs can provide PEC services. … [Read more...] about Evaluation of a training program on primary eye care for an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in an urban district
Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care: Stakeholder perceptions from the PRIME district sites in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda
Task sharing as an approach to target mental health through community health workers is slowly gaining attention and support in LMICs. This multi-site study aimed to determine key factors that could drive task sharing in different contexts along with providing insight regarding challenges associated with the approach. … [Read more...] about Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care: Stakeholder perceptions from the PRIME district sites in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda
Can lay health workers support the management of hypertension? Findings of a cluster randomised trial in South Africa
With the urgency of the HIV and TB epidemics in some low and middle-income countries, prevalent chronic diseases such as hypertension are often neglected by health services. This study assesses whether task-shifting from nurses to lay health workers (LHWs) improves the management of hypertension in rural primary healthcare clinics in South Africa. … [Read more...] about Can lay health workers support the management of hypertension? Findings of a cluster randomised trial in South Africa
Ethics of task shifting in the health workforce: exploring the role of community health workers in HIV service delivery in low- and middle-income countries
Task-shifting among CHWs addresses human resource shortages that have an affect on HIV service delivery in low-and-middle-income countries. Despite evidence on the positive outcomes CHWs bring to HIV programs, little is known about the challenges CHWs face in HIV service provision. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining the ethical challenges that CHWs face in in … [Read more...] about Ethics of task shifting in the health workforce: exploring the role of community health workers in HIV service delivery in low- and middle-income countries