Hispanic immigrants to the United States experience higher rates of negative weight-related health outcomes than non-Hispanic individuals. This longitudinal observational study assessed the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW) led weight-management intervention, Healthy Fit, focused on nutrition education and promotion of physical activity. The researchers found … [Read more...] about Body composition outcomes of Healthy Fit and the role of acculturation among low-income Hispanics on the US-Mexico border
Research
Addressing maternal and child health equity through a community health worker home visiting intervention to reduce low birth weight: retrospective quasi-experimental study of the Arizona Health Start Programme
The Health Start Programme is a community health worker (CHW) program in Arizona that addresses maternal and child health. This quasi-experimental retrospective study sought to understand if the Health Start Programme decreased rates of low birth weight (LBW), very low birth weight (VLBW), extremely low birth weight (ELVW), and preterm birth (PTB). Preliminary data suggest that … [Read more...] about Addressing maternal and child health equity through a community health worker home visiting intervention to reduce low birth weight: retrospective quasi-experimental study of the Arizona Health Start Programme
Community Health Worker Roles and Responsibilities in Rural and Urban America
With their unique ties and cultural knowledge of their communities, community health workers (CHWs) help fill healthcare gaps in both rural and urban America. This qualitative study sought to further understand the workforce development needs of CHWs and compare experiences of CHWs in urban and rural America. The study found that CHWs act as key links to healthcare in their … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Roles and Responsibilities in Rural and Urban America
Supporting the Integration of Community Health Workers in Whole Person Care Pilots
In California, whole person care (WPC) helps streamline coordination of care across many sectors of the healthcare system. Some WPC programs utilize community health workers (CHWs) to carry out this coordination of care, but as WPC programs differ across regions the support CHWs needed to carry out activities also varies. The authors of this study provided region-specific … [Read more...] about Supporting the Integration of Community Health Workers in Whole Person Care Pilots
Community Health Workers and Pandemic Preparedness: Current and Prospective Roles
The authors of this study reviewed the response to the 2014 Ebola epidemic and the 2015 Zika epidemic to further understand the role of community health workers (CHWs) in pandemic preparedness. They found that CHWs influenced pandemic prepared both before and after the onset of pandemic. Before, CHWs were involved in improving the health of their communities and delivering … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers and Pandemic Preparedness: Current and Prospective Roles