The SATHI project in India trained community health workers (CHWs) with basic education to reduce unmet surgical needs in slum areas. In a 6-month pilot involving 12,730 people, 10% had surgical needs, with 57% unmet. CHWs helped 60% of these patients get needed surgeries, especially for abdominal conditions and cataracts. The project shows that with short training, CHWs can … [Read more...] about Community health workers to reduce unmet surgical needs in an urban slum in India: an implementation study
Asia
Barriers in providing maternal health care services in a mountainous area
This study looked at the challenges health workers (particularly village health workers) face in providing maternal care in the mountainous region of Cao Bang, Vietnam. Issues included a lack of skilled workers, poor use of resources, low commitment to work, and strong traditional beliefs that hinder care. To improve maternal health services in these remote areas, future … [Read more...] about Barriers in providing maternal health care services in a mountainous area
Development of a Tool for the Assessment of Job Satisfaction amongst the Community Health Workers
This study aimed to create a tool to measure job satisfaction among community health workers (CHWs) based on factors related to individuals, the community, and the health system. A survey was given to 92 CHWs in rural Madhya Pradesh, India. After analysis, a 13-item scale was finalized, focusing on the health system, supervision, peer support, and personal job satisfaction. The … [Read more...] about Development of a Tool for the Assessment of Job Satisfaction amongst the Community Health Workers
Strengthening primary health care through community health workers in South Asia
This paper reviews community health worker (CHW) programs in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, highlighting their roles in health education, community services, and maternal and child health. While CHWs have had successes, challenges remain. To improve CHW programs and achieve Universal Health Coverage, the paper suggests focusing on better integrating CHWs … [Read more...] about Strengthening primary health care through community health workers in South Asia
Integrating humanities in healthcare: a mixed-methods study for development and testing of a humanities curriculum for front-line health workers in Karachi, Pakistan
In Pakistan, lady health workers (LHWs) play a crucial role in providing maternal and child health services but face low pay and heavy workloads. To help them better connect with and support their patients, the researchers created a training program based on local art and literature aimed at enhancing their empathy, communication, and compassion. This program was tested with … [Read more...] about Integrating humanities in healthcare: a mixed-methods study for development and testing of a humanities curriculum for front-line health workers in Karachi, Pakistan