Even the most effective solutions will fail if they do not align with the experiences, interests, and beliefs of the communities they are designed to help. As people who are intimately involved within their communities, CHWs represent a group with the knowledge and insight to help researchers tailor projects to better fit the needs of their target audiences. Kiera Coulter and … [Read more...] about Positionality of Community Health Workers on Health Intervention Research Teams: A Scoping Review
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Community health worker interventions to promote psychosocial outcomes among people living with HIV– A systematic review
Some CHWs learn how to help people experiencing HIV and AIDS reframe their thinking about the disease to reduce depression, improve quality of life, and engage in treatment. Hae-Ra Han and her colleagues gathered available research about whether different types of training contribute to positive changes in HIV- and AIDS-related thoughts and behaviors. They identified limited … [Read more...] about Community health worker interventions to promote psychosocial outcomes among people living with HIV– A systematic review
The community health worker as service extender, cultural broker and social change agent: A critical interpretive synthesis of roles, intent, an accountability
CHWs connect the communities in which they live and the health systems in which they are immersed. Marta Schaaf and her colleagues identified the three main roles of CHWs in bridging this gap: the service extender (bringing medical services to the people), the cultural broker (interpreting medical services for the people), and the social change agent (helping address contexts … [Read more...] about The community health worker as service extender, cultural broker and social change agent: A critical interpretive synthesis of roles, intent, an accountability
The distinctive roles of urban community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of the literature
As low- and middle-income cities grow in size, community health workers increasingly require evidence-based guidance to understand how to deliver health services to the urban poor. Teralynn Ludwick and her team reviewed the literature to understand the role of CHWs in urban health systems. CHWs often took on similar roles to those found in rural contexts, with the exception … [Read more...] about The distinctive roles of urban community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of the literature
Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis
This paper presents the results of a rapid evidence synthesis (RES) on CHWs and their role in COVID-19 control and prevention. The authors note that, although more research on implementation is required, findings support the vital role of CHWs in the COVID-19 response. They stress the importance of role clarity, supportive supervision, and work satisfaction for CHWs. … [Read more...] about Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis