Results: 3217
Does integrated community case management (iCCM) target health inequities and treatment delays? Evidence from an analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys data from 21 countries in the period 2010 to 2018 (2021)
Integrated community case management (iCCM) improves access for hard-to-reach populations by deploying CHWs to deliver essential treatment for children. This study reviewed demographic and health survey data from 21 countries over 9 years to evaluate iCCM programs. The study determined that iCCM can address treatment delays and target underserved populations.
Evaluating a capacity building program on women’s health for displaced community health workers in fragile settings in Lebanon (2021)
CHWs deliver basic education and health services to displaced populations in fragile settings. This study evaluated the Women’s Health Certificate delivered to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, delivered through a mobile classroom approach. This evaluation determined that both the community and the CHWs benefitted from this training, enhancing both CHW knowledgeRead more…
Barriers and facilitators of rendering HIV services by community health workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-synthesis. (2021)
In sub-Saharan Africa, CHWs contribute to strengthening HIV programs, but face various country-specific barriers in providing care. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study determined some of the challenges CHWs encounter with HIV-related services, and implementing these interventions. The study found that CHWs altruism and job availability facilitated HIVRead more…
Recruitment, Training, and Roles of the Bilingual, Bicultural Navegantes: Developing a Specialized Workforce of Community Health Workers to Serve a Low-Income, Spanish-Speaking Population in Rhode Island (2021)
Bilingual Community Health Workers (CHW) are key team members who improve the ability of the clinic to provide care for and improve the health status of the large population of uninsured Spanish-speaking patients in Providence, RI. Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic (CEHC), a free healthcare clinic, developed an Advanced Navegante Training ProgramRead more…
Early Lessons From Launching an Innovative Community Health Household Model Across 3 Country Contexts (2021)
Community health workers (CHWs) are an essential part of the health workforce and are integrated throughout health systems. Partners In Health (PIH), a nongovernmental organization, incorporated the “household model” (HHM) in 3 countries where larger health care system strengthening partnerships already exist. The HMM was deployed in Liberia, Mexico, andRead more…
Developing a district level supportive supervision framework for community health workers through co-production in South Africa (2021)
In an effort to address highly chronic communicable/non communicable diseases and move towards Universal Health Coverage, South Africa relies on community health worker programs. However, CHW programs suffer from limited training and resources, low trust with other primary health care workers and inadequate supervision. This study applied the model ofRead more…
Compensation models for community health workers: Comparison of legal frameworks across five countries (2021)
Despite the life-saving work CHWs perform, they have long been subject to global debate about their remuneration. Donors and officials in many countries believe that CHW salaries are not ‘sustainable’ or that remunerating CHWs might pollute their intrinsic motivations. However, there is now consensus that CHWs should be paid appropriately.Read more…
How workers respond to social rewards: evidence from community health workers in Uganda (2020)
The use of CHWs has emerged as a cost-effective approach to extend the reach of health systems. Although it is assumed that low levels of compensation contribute to high drop-out rates among CHWs, a field experiment from Uganda found that the offer of greater financial incentives attracted less socially motivatedRead more…
‘A seamless transition’: how to sustain a community health worker scheme within the health system of Gombe state, northeast Nigeria (2021)
Donor-funded interventions are frequently not adopted, scaled or sustained, or they diminish in efficacy or deviate from the intended protocol. Incorporating village health workers (VHWs) and strengthening their roles is a common intervention funded by donors to tackle maternal, newborn and child health issues. This paper explores the sustainability ofRead more…
Perceptions of Lady Health Workers and their trainers about their curriculum for implementing the interventions identified for Essential Package of Health Services for Pakistan (2021)
In the efforts to expand health services and address the shortage of health workers, Pakistan’s government focused on improving the quality of training for CHWs. Lady Health Workers (LHWs) are an essential group of CHWs and compose the most extensive and valuable health resource. Focus group discussions were conducted toRead more…
“Eternally restarting” or “a branch line of continuity”? Exploring consequences of external shocks on community health systems in Haiti (2021)
Community health systems (CHS) are integral in promoting well-being in humanitarian settings, such as Haiti, that face disruptive socio-political and environmental shocks. Haiti’s community health workers (CHWs) are critical intermediaries and this study explores how shocks influence CHS functionality and resilience in the country. Respondents recommended government support for CHWs,Read more…
Learnings From a Pilot Study to Strengthen Primary Health Care Services: The Community-Clinic-Centered Health Service Model in Barishal District, Bangladesh (2021)
In Bangladesh, efforts have been made to strengthen the partnerships between community health workers (CHWs) and community clinics. Using qualitative data such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions, investigators found that through engaging government members and coordinating multi-level healthcare work, community health workers were valuable in mobilizing resourcesRead more…
Female Community Health Workers and Health System Navigation in a Conflict Zone: The Case of Afghanistan (2021)
CHWs have been deployed in rural Afghanistan to provide basic health care to Afghani women in remote areas. This paper explored Afghani women’s motivations to become CHWs. It suggests that female CHWs should be provided accreditation and encouragement to progress in their careers as CHWs. Additionally, this paper highlights theRead more…
Framing the Integration of Community Health Workers into Health Care Systems Along Health Care and Community Spectrums (2021)
Although the literature emphasizes the need for CHW integration into health systems, there is no standard on how this should be done. Through qualitative interviews, this study determined key themes for clinical and community integration for CHWs. The authors found that accessibility, relationships and empathy are essential for community integrationRead more…
Digital Health-Enabled Community-Centered Care (D-CCC): A Scalable Model to Empower Future Community Health Workers utilizing Human-in-the-Loop AI (2022)
Digital Health-Enabled Community-Centered Care (D-CCC) aims to amplify CHWs reach through a form of AI, designed for and with CHWs. Currently, CHWs have integrated mobile-based CCC care through mHealth platforms. This paper proposes the use of D-CCC to expand communication between CHWs and the community; therefore, extending CHW reach andRead more…
Ethics of Neighborly Intimacy among Community Health Activists in Delhi (2020)
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are India’s largest CHW cadre. This article highlights the work of ASHAs and their experiences with the “ethics of neighborly intimacy,” a culturally competent method of facilitating access to public healthcare.
Community Health Worker Sustainability: Funding, Payment, and Reimbursement Laws in the United States (2021)
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, CHW funding changed at the federal level; however, CHW remuneration varies from state to state. At the state level, CHW programs receive funding from grants, reimbursement for services, non-profit support and other mechanisms. The diversity of funding sourcesRead more…
Evaluating the association of state regulation of community health workers on adoption of standard roles, skills, and qualities by employers in select states: a mixed methods study (2021)
In the United States, CHW roles vary across states and intervention areas. This mixed-methods study aimed to describe these differences and recommend evidence-based standards for CHWs going forward. It determined that to improve the delivery of culturally competent care, CHW certification programs should adopt standards with requirements set by statesRead more…
Promising careers? A critical analysis of a randomized control trial in community health worker recruitment in Zambia (2021)
This article explores the effects of changes in recruitment practices made by the Zambian government based on the results of a randomized control trial (RCT). The RCT found that using posters that advertised CHW career paths attracted a greater number of suitable candidates. The Zambian government adopted this recruitment approach,Read more…
Community health workers experiences and perceptions of working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria—A qualitative study (2022)
CHWs in Lagos provide essential health care, however their role during the COVID-19 pandemic is not as clear. Through semi-structured interviews, this study determined three main themes: different influences on CHWs ability to undertake COVID-19, influences on willingness to work during the pandemic, and suggested improvements for CHWs. The studyRead more…
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