This review paper examines key opportunities and challenges presented when task shifting is used to rapidly expand human resource capacity to address HIV/AIDS. Opportunities include: increasing access to life-saving treatment; improving workforce skills mix and health system efficiency; enhancing the role of the community; cost savings; and reducing attrition and international … [Read more...] about Task shifting in HIV/AIDS: opportunities, challenges and proposed actions for sub-Saharan Africa
CHW Role
Systems Support for Task-Shifting to Community Health Workers
This technical brief discusses necessary elements of a successful approach to task-shifting of life-saving services to CHWs. The document highlights the importance of systems for planning and regulation, education and training, supervision, referral and evaluation. … [Read more...] about Systems Support for Task-Shifting to Community Health Workers
Lay health workers in primary and community health care: A systematic review of trials
This review examines randomized control trials that tested the effectiveness of lay health worker (LHW) interventions on improving Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and addressing key high-burden diseases in low and middle income countries. The authors found that the use of LHWs in health programs showed benefits when compared with standard care in promoting immunization and … [Read more...] about Lay health workers in primary and community health care: A systematic review of trials
Comparing the Effectiveness and Costs of Alternative Strategies for Improving Access to Information and Services for the IUD in Ghana
This report describes a study conducted in Ghana to explore utilizing Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to increase interest in using IUDs and other long-acting and permanent methods. The study utilized a pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design and included two intervention groups (where CHOs and CHVs were given additional training and … [Read more...] about Comparing the Effectiveness and Costs of Alternative Strategies for Improving Access to Information and Services for the IUD in Ghana
Do lay or community health workers in primary health care improve maternal and child health and tuberculosis outcomes? A SUPPORT Summary of a systematic review
This systematic review is helpful for people who need to make decisions about the use of lay health workers in primary and community care delivery. The authors reviewed 82 studies to assess the effects of lay health worker interventions on improving MCH and TB outcomes. Key findings and considerations of relevance for low and middle income countries are included outcomes. … [Read more...] about Do lay or community health workers in primary health care improve maternal and child health and tuberculosis outcomes? A SUPPORT Summary of a systematic review