In recent years, community health workers (CHWs) have received renewed attention in light of critical shortages in the health workforce and emphasis on strengthening primary healthcare systems for achieving global health goals. CHWs are generally assumed to be a less expensive alternative compared with other cadres of health workers, notably with regard to salary and incentives … [Read more...] about Costs and cost-effectiveness of community health workers: evidence from a literature review
Journal articles
Prevalence of depressive symptoms amongst highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) patients in AIDSRelief Uganda
There is need for in-depth evaluation to find out the root causes of depressive symptoms among HAART patients in AIDSRelief clinics. There is need to integrate mental health management in HIV care and treatment as well as training the existing health workers on mental health management. (2013) … [Read more...] about Prevalence of depressive symptoms amongst highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) patients in AIDSRelief Uganda
Improved Retention Associated With Community-Based Accompaniment for Antiretroviral Therapy Delivery in Rural Rwanda
Minimizing death and ensuring high retention and good adherence remain ongoing challenges for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment programs. We examined whether the addition of community-based accompaniment (characterized by daily home visits from a community health worker, directly observed treatment, nutritional support, transportation stipends, and other support as … [Read more...] about Improved Retention Associated With Community-Based Accompaniment for Antiretroviral Therapy Delivery in Rural Rwanda
Problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in Zimbabwe: piloting a task-shifting primary mental health care intervention in a population with a high prevalence of people living with HIV
There is limited evidence that interventions for depression and other common mental disorders (CMD) can be integrated sustainably into primary health care in Africa. We aimed to pilot a low-cost multi-component 'Friendship Bench Intervention' for CMD, locally adapted from problem-solving therapy and delivered by trained and supervised female lay workers to learn if was feasible … [Read more...] about Problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in Zimbabwe: piloting a task-shifting primary mental health care intervention in a population with a high prevalence of people living with HIV
Community-based accompaniment and psychosocial health outcomes in HIV-infected adults in Rwanda: a prospective study
We examined whether the addition of community-based accompaniment to Rwanda's national model for antiretroviral treatment (ART) was associated with greater improvements in patients' psychosocial health outcomes during the first year of therapy. We enrolled 610 HIV-infected adults with CD4 cell counts under 350 cells/μL initiating ART in one of two programs. Both programs … [Read more...] about Community-based accompaniment and psychosocial health outcomes in HIV-infected adults in Rwanda: a prospective study