Child health

Bringing Child Health Closer to Families: Lessons From a Family MUAC Intervention in Urban and Rural South Africa

This study looked at a program in South Africa where community health workers taught mothers how to check their children for malnutrition using a simple arm measurement (MUAC). The program was more active in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) than in urban Gauteng. Most trained mothers in KZN were able to measure correctly, while fewer did so in Gauteng. Only a small number of mothers … [Read more...] about Bringing Child Health Closer to Families: Lessons From a Family MUAC Intervention in Urban and Rural South Africa

Neonatal deaths remain a major concern in South Africa, with nearly half linked to prematurity. The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program supports very low birth weight (VLBW) babies through community health worker visits. This study examined VLBW infants discharged from a regional hospital, their follow-up care, health outcomes, and caregiver experiences. Among 169 … [Read more...] about Community-based follow-up of very low birth weight neonates discharged from a regional hospital in Cape Town: a descriptive study

Early child development programs delivered by community health workers (CHWs) in low-resource settings can be effective, but scaling them presents challenges. This study analyzed data from a home-visiting trial in rural Madagascar to assess the impact of CHWs and communities on child development. Results showed that CHWs and community factors influenced children's developmental … [Read more...] about Assessing the value-added contributions of community health workers and communities to early child development: a longitudinal study in a low-income setting

Pediatric liver transplant patients and their families face challenges in accessing healthcare and social services. This study used input from caregivers and transplant teams to design a navigator role to address these issues. Caregivers wanted help with accessing resources, preparing for appointments, and improving communication with schools and healthcare providers. … [Read more...] about Co-producing a health advocate intervention for pediatric liver transplant recipients using human-centered design

Childhood stunting is a major health issue in Rwanda, and community health workers (CHWs) play a key role in preventing it. This study explored the challenges and support CHWs receive in delivering nutrition programs in Burera District. Barriers included lack of technology skills, financial struggles, and cultural beliefs, while strong government support, training, and … [Read more...] about Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of community health workers’ nutrition intervention for stunting prevention in Burera District, Rwanda