CHWs can play a significant role in mitigating the impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change, and global noncommunicable diseases on health by providing culturally-relevant education and behavioral interventions. Manas Behera and colleagues performed a review of the literature to understand how CHWs impact these factors on a global scale. The researchers identified four … [Read more...] about Planetary health and the role of community health workers
Asia
Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Commune health centers were inaugurated in 2015 in Vietnam to provide methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for people experiencing both HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). Diep Bich Nguyen evaluated challenges to provision of care experienced by CHWs working in commune health centers. Challenges often occurred as a result of stigmatization toward people with SUDs and a … [Read more...] about Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Only one in five Nepali women seek care following gender-based violence (GBV). Myra Betron and colleagues evaluated whether female community health volunteers (fCHVs), with their trusted role in society, could improve care for these women. After attending a single day of training, fCHVs reported increased knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing care for GBV. One year … [Read more...] about Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Impacts of health system physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated by assigning tasks that require limited specialized knowledge to non-physician healthcare workers, including CHWs. Joseph Maria and colleagues reviewed 46 research studies to understand how this so-called “task-sharing” is applied to manage type 2 diabetes in LMICs. … [Read more...] about Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Factors influencing the performance of community health workers: A qualitative study of Anganwadi Workers from Bihar, India
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) in India’s Child Development Services program represent the largest CHW cadre in the world, but factors influencing employee performance remain understudied. Aparna John and colleagues interviewed AWWs to understand factors driving their performance within the program. Results indicated that the most common constraints to performance included a lack of … [Read more...] about Factors influencing the performance of community health workers: A qualitative study of Anganwadi Workers from Bihar, India