Results: 3217
Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis (2020)
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,Read more…
The Effects of Community Home Visit and Peer Group Nutrition Intervention Delivery Platforms on Nutrition Outcomes in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2020)
The authors in this study highlight the importance of CHW-led delivery systems aimed at improving nutrition-focused interventions. A systematic literature search produced results that indicate an increase in early initiation of breastfeeding, children’s minimum dietary diversity, and minimum meal frequency. The data indicate that CHWs improve infant and child nutritionalRead more…
Exploration of Community Health Workers’ views about in their role and support in Primary Health Care in Northern Cape, South Africa (2019)
The objectives of this study conducted in South Africa were better understand CHW views of their work and work environment. Findings showed that CHWs perform various health and social care roles, they believe they make a substantial impact on the primary healthcare system, and the system relies on them. TheyRead more…
COVID-19: It Ain’t Over Until There’s PPE All Over (2020)
This article argues for the need for CHWs to be provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE). CHWs are key actors in the the COVID-19 response at the community level. The authors outline the negative effects PPE shortages have on CHWs and, ultimately, the community.
Malaria knowledge and experiences with community health workers among recently pregnant women in Malawi (2020)
In Ghana, intermittent preventive therapy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is recommended for pregnant women to prevent malaria. This household survey assessed the results of community-based IPTp-SP provision by CHWs. Results show women had positive experiences with CHWs, knowledge malaria in pregnancy did not improve markedly, but served by CHWs had aRead more…
Assessing community health worker service delivery in humanitarian settings (2020)
Humanitarian emergencies prompt a crucial need for services and resources, especially for populations that don’t live within easy access to health facilities. There has been a renewed interest in CHWs and their ability to deliver services, such as routine exams and emergency responses, during humanitarian crises. However, the authors foundRead more…
Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement ()
Researchers distributed a questionnaire in rural Cambodia to assess the level of surgical knowledge among physicians, CHWs, and community members. The median scores for surgical symptomatic knowledge was 8 for medical staff, 8 for CHWs, and 8.5 for villagers. The study’s authors concluded that medical staff in rural areas neededRead more…
Performance of volunteer community health workers in implementing home-fortification interventions in Bangladesh: A qualitative investigation (2020)
This paper explored individual, community, and BRAC work-related factors that influenced volunteer Shasthya Shebika (SS) performance. The authors found that age, education, experience, and community recognition positively affected SS performance. However, they also noted challenges with BRAC, particularly in its compensation of SS. The paper concludes by advising BRAC toRead more…
Impact of Community Health Worker Certification on Workforce and Service Delivery for Asthma and Other Selected Chronic Diseases (2020)
This study aimed to examine the relationship between CHW certification and CHW outcomes, such as recruitment and retention. It also strived to describe the association between certification and health outcomes for patients with asthma and other chronic illnesses. However, the investigators failed to find much evidence on CHW certification, itsRead more…
COVID-19 Crisis Creates Opportunities for Community-Centered Population Health Community Health Workers at the Center (2020)
In this paper, the authors outline a two-step state plan to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing CHWs. They envision an evolved healthcare system in which the continued use of CHWs plays a vital role in developing a community-centered healthcare system.
Global and Local Community Health Workers as a lifeline for communities facing inequities in the midst of COVID-19 and beyond (2020)
This white paper focuses on the importance of CHWs in addressing health inequities and the needs of marginalized populations in the face of COVID-19. The authors offer an historical perspective and emphasize the importance of CHWs multifaceted role in addressing vulnerable populations’ myriad needs. They argue that CHWs have theRead more…
Strengthening Public Health Systems : Policy Ideas from a Governance Perspective (English) (2020)
Pandemic response requires a trusted community-based workforce. Economic theory on incentives for public health workers (PHWs) informs recruitment and management of frontline health workers. The authors surveyed PHWs in India and utilized the data and economic theory to outline health worker incentives and policy responses for pandemics.
Using mobile phones to improve community health workers performance in low-and-middle-income countries (2020)
The authors of this study stress the importance of mHealth to enhance the impact of CHW’ work in LMICs. They emphasize the importance of mobile phones for data collection, provider communication, and monitoring. They also point out that obstacles, such as a lack of mHealth training and internet service, canRead more…
Bringing severe acute malnutrition treatment close to households through community health workers can lead to early admissions and improved discharge outcomes (2020)
Researchers in Mali aimed to determine whether CHWs delivering Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) care would promote early case identification compared to outpatient treatment at health facilities (HFs). The results indicated that CHWs diagnosed and treated more infectious disease cases. Additionally, CHWs administering SAM treatment resulted in earlier admissions, more integratedRead more…
Evaluating community health worker education policy through a National Certificate (Vocational) Primary Health qualification lens (2020)
South Africa’s National Department of Health (NDoH) intended to determine whether the National Certificate (Vocational), or NC(V), for CHWs met the qualifications set forth by the NDoH and World Health Organization (WHO) for CHW programme optimization. Using qualitative data collection, the researchers found that the NC(V) met the NDoH andRead more…
Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis (2020)
The authors synthesized data on the role of CHWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that CHWs raised awareness, resolved stigma, and administered primary healthcare. CHWs need to be trained, supported, and equipped with personal protective equipment to safely respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National UK programme of community health workers for COVID-19 response (2020)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors suggest a CHW taskforce be trained to aid people in their homes, particularly the elderly who are especially vulnerable to the virus. They argue that CHWs responding to COVID-19 should be between 18-30 years old because the youth are currently at lessRead more…
Quality assured COVID-19 Library of resources for community-based health workers (2020)
This database offers a variety of medically-reviewed educational materials regarding COVID-19. Visitors will find resources related to: emergency response, risk mitigation and community engagement, case finding, surveillance, public health prevention measures, infection prevention and control, lab testing, case management, and societal response.
Prioritising the role of community health workers in the COVID-19 response (2020)
This action article stresses the significance of CHWs for achieving 4 pivotal goals in the effort against the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations. The authors argue for and present strategies to: “(1) PROTECT healthcare workers, (2) INTERRUPT the virus, (3) MAINTAIN existing healthcare services while surgingRead more…
Performance of community health workers and associated factors in a rural community in Wakiso district, Uganda (2019)
Conducted in rural Uganda, this cross-sectional qualitative study evaluated CHW performance and elements associated with performance among 201 CHWs. . Results indicated that only 19.9% of the CHWs performed well and that 90.3% of CHWs ran out of necessary medication in the 6 months before the study. Furthermore, of theRead more…
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