This is a systematic review of the costs and cost-effectiveness of using community health workers in vaccination programmes. The review only identified three studies that met their inclusion criteria. Methodologically, the studies were strong but did not adequately address affordability and sustainability and were also highly heterogeneous in terms of settings and CHW outcomes, … [Read more...] about Are vaccination programmes delivered by lay health workers cost-effective? A systematic review
CHW Role
Increasing access to Family Planning (FP) and Reproductive Health (RH) services through task-sharing between CHWs and community mid-level professionals in large-scale public-sector programs: A Literature Review to Help Guide Case Studies
CHW programs throughout the world vary in structure and emphasis. This literature review addresses the challenge of making connections among inputs, processes and outcomes of these diverse community programs. Completed as part of the USAID-funded project of the same name, it analyses 78 of the most useful documents on CHW programs with components of family planning and … [Read more...] about Increasing access to Family Planning (FP) and Reproductive Health (RH) services through task-sharing between CHWs and community mid-level professionals in large-scale public-sector programs: A Literature Review to Help Guide Case Studies
Community Health Worker Code of Ethics Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to guide professional CHW organizations through the process of developing and adopting a code of ethics. Having a code of ethics can enhance CHWs’ relationships with the community, promote professionalism, legitimize CHWs as members of health care teams and provide guidance in solving ethical quandaries. The toolkit, which was developed for use by … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Code of Ethics Toolkit
Iranian health houses open the door to primary care
This article reviews Iran’s “Health Houses,” which were conceived and introduced during the country’s 1980-1988 war with Iraq. The health houses are run by trained CHWs, called behvarzan, who provide basic health care to most of the country's rural population. Female behvarz are typically responsible for child and maternal health, vaccinations, registration and administering … [Read more...] about Iranian health houses open the door to primary care
On the front line of primary health care: the profile of community health workers in rural Quechua communities in Peru
This article profiles CHWs, including health promoters, traditional birth attendants and traditional healers, serving rural Quechua communities from Ayacucho, Peru. It uses both quantitative and qualitative information from questionnaires, personal interviews and group discussions conducted in 40 communities. The majority of CHWs in Ayacucho are men with limited education who … [Read more...] about On the front line of primary health care: the profile of community health workers in rural Quechua communities in Peru