Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Community health workers’ usability and acceptability of an mHealth tool for post-cesarean assessments: A mixed-methods study in rural Rwanda

This study tested a mobile phone tool designed to help community health workers support women after cesarean birth in rural Rwanda. Community health workers were trained to use the tool during home visits to check symptoms and share information with health facilities. The workers found the tool easy to use and helpful, and their performance using it was strong. Overall, the … [Read more...] about Community health workers’ usability and acceptability of an mHealth tool for post-cesarean assessments: A mixed-methods study in rural Rwanda

This study looked at whether community health workers visiting families at home could help more children start treatment to prevent tuberculosis. Compared to standard clinic-based care, home visits led to about 40% more children beginning preventive treatment, with similar completion and safety outcomes in both groups. While the difference was not statistically certain, the … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of a Home-based Approach to Child Contact Investigation and Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Management by Community Health Workers in Ethiopia: A Pragmatic Cluster-randomized Trial

This study looks at how community health workers in Rwanda have grown and changed since 1995. Over time, their work expanded from basic health education to caring for common illnesses, supporting mothers and children, and responding to outbreaks. CHWs have played a major role in HIV and TB care and are trusted by their communities. Support from local leaders, fair incentives, … [Read more...] about Three decades of community health workers in primary healthcare delivery in Rwanda: evolution, impact and policy lessons

South Africa has the world’s largest HIV treatment program, but healthcare workers often lack up-to-date knowledge on drug interactions, like those for dolutegravir. A survey of 1,950 workers showed major knowledge gaps, with only 56% having received training. To address this, a WhatsApp-based microlearning program was tested with nurses and community health workers in rural … [Read more...] about Designing and testing a solution to fill ART knowledge gaps at primary healthcare level: WhatsApp-based microlearning

This study looked at whether women in two districts in Malawi were more likely to use modern contraceptives when the information came from health workers or from community figures like religious leaders, traditional leaders, peers, or the media. Among the 414 women surveyed, contraceptive use was almost the same in both groups. The small difference found wasn’t meaningful. The … [Read more...] about Effect of healthcare worker vs. non-health worker delivered health education on modern contraceptive uptake among women in Malawi: a quasi-experimental study