In rural Rwanda, many schoolchildren face poor health, and schools often lack health workers to support their well-being. A study found that children’s health improves when schools have health promotion teams and teachers are familiar with health programs. Community health workers (CHWs) can act as vital links between schools, communities, and health centers. The Health … [Read more...] about Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: an opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance school health promotion and primary healthcare systems linkages
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
A cross-sectional study of point-of-care lactate testing in integrated community care management (ICCM) for children with acute respiratory illness in rural uganda
Integrated community case management (iCCM) relies on village health workers (VHWs) to assess sick children and refer severe cases. A study in rural Uganda tested if measuring lactate levels, a marker of severe illness, could improve referrals. Among 204 children with fever and cough, 12% had elevated lactate levels, but these were often not linked to visible danger signs used … [Read more...] about A cross-sectional study of point-of-care lactate testing in integrated community care management (ICCM) for children with acute respiratory illness in rural uganda
NCD prevention and control in Kenya: feasibility study of health kiosks in markets “HEKIMA Study”
The HEKIMA project tested health kiosks in community markets, staffed by community health workers and supervised by nurses, to improve access to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in Vihiga County, Kenya. Over six months, 2,224 people, mostly women, used the kiosks for screenings and health promotion. Many had high blood pressure (48%), overweight (32%), or diabetes (12%). … [Read more...] about NCD prevention and control in Kenya: feasibility study of health kiosks in markets “HEKIMA Study”
Monitoring and Evaluation Systems on Performance of Community Health Workers Programme in Banadir Region, Somalia
This study examined how monitoring and evaluation systems affect the performance of the Community Health Workers (CHW) program in Banadir, Somalia, with a focus on capacity building. Data from households showed that increased capacity building could improve CHW project performance by up to 90%. Key findings suggest that investing in more CHWs is essential for improving … [Read more...] about Monitoring and Evaluation Systems on Performance of Community Health Workers Programme in Banadir Region, Somalia
Communication Channels, Community Engagement and Access to Healthcare Services in Tanzania
This study examined how different communication channels, like mobile phones, community health workers, radio, social media, and village meetings, affect community engagement and healthcare access in Makambako, Tanzania. With data from 503 participants, results showed these channels boost health information sharing and encourage healthier behaviors, making it easier for people … [Read more...] about Communication Channels, Community Engagement and Access to Healthcare Services in Tanzania