Asia

Unpacking the Complex Determinants of the Performance of Accredited Social Health Activists in Bihar: A Qualitative Study

This study looks at what helps or hinders the work of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Bihar, India. Using interviews, it finds that ASHAs face different challenges depending on the task. Tasks like immunization, surveys, and escorting mothers to hospitals are prioritized because they come with incentives or are closely monitored. In contrast, home visits for … [Read more...] about Unpacking the Complex Determinants of the Performance of Accredited Social Health Activists in Bihar: A Qualitative Study

This study looked at whether trained lay health workers (non-specialists) could help people with early psychosis in Bangkok. They compared regular care with a program that included family support, help accessing services, and regular check-ins. After six months, those in the program showed better daily activity, self-care, and behavior than those who received regular care. … [Read more...] about Lay health worker-delivered case management for early episodes of psychosis in Bangkok, Thailand (Lay-CARE): a single-centre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial

This study evaluated stakeholders’ perception on whether it is possible and acceptable to bring point-of-care glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing for malaria treatment to communities in Cambodia. Most people agreed the testing is valuable, and village malaria workers could do it well with proper training and support. However, some concerns like cost, device … [Read more...] about Acceptability and feasibility of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing using SD Biosensor by village malaria workers in Cambodia: a qualitative study

A new tool called the Mental Health Literacy Assessment Scale was developed to measure how well community health workers in Nepal understand mental health. It went through careful testing and showed strong results for accuracy and reliability. The scale covers key areas like positive mental health habits, common myths, signs of mental distress, and stigma. It is a useful tool … [Read more...] about Development and validation of Mental Health Literacy Assessment Scale among community health workers in Nepal

This study looked at the impact of Pakistan’s Lady Health Worker (LHW) program on maternal and child health. It found that families with more contact with LHWs were more likely to use important health services like antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and child vaccinations. However, this contact did not lead to lower death rates for newborns or children. To make the … [Read more...] about A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of lady health worker visits in the prenatal and postnatal period on the uptake of continuum of care interventions and childhood mortality in Pakistan