CHWs in primary care include those with limited formal medical education who provide primary care services and patient support. Andrea Hartzler and her colleagues surveyed thirty research studies to understand the core functions and roles of CHWs in primary care. Functions of CHWs clustered across three types of roles: Clinical services, community resource connections, and … [Read more...] about Roles and functions of community health workers in primary care
Asia
Protecting community health workers: PPE needs and recommendations for policy action
Demands for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic strained global supply chains, often leaving low- and middle-income countries without a means to protect their health workers. CHWs are no exception. This article provides an overview of PPE required to protect CHWs during a pandemic and makes recommendations for improving supply chain access. … [Read more...] about Protecting community health workers: PPE needs and recommendations for policy action
Costing analysis of a pilot community health worker program in rural nepal
A leader in community health care, Nepal seeks to expand their system to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2017, the country piloted a program designed to align their programs with the World Health Organization 2018 guidelines for CHWs. Prajwol Nepal and colleagues evaluated the operating costs of this program. Average per capita annual … [Read more...] about Costing analysis of a pilot community health worker program in rural nepal
Positionality of Community Health Workers on Health Intervention Research Teams: A Scoping Review
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
Community Health Workers as Influential Health System Actors and not “Just Another Pair Of Hands”
CHWs across the world have mixed status, with some feeling appreciated as important contributors to their community and others feeling used and undervalued by more advanced health professionals. Sumit Kane and his colleagues surveyed CHWs in India to better understand their lived experiences. Many CHWs described initially feeling as if they were a powerless tool, but these … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers as Influential Health System Actors and not “Just Another Pair Of Hands”