Authors: Racheal Alinaitwe, Seggane Musisi, David Mukunya, Yvette Wibabara, Byamah B Mutamba, Noeline Nakasujja
In Uganda, cognitive impairment in older adults often goes undiagnosed due to limited resources and trained personnel. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using Community Health Workers (CHWs) to screen and refer older adults with cognitive impairment in Wakiso district. CHWs received training and used a screening tool to identify cognitive impairment. Results showed a high agreement between CHWs and healthcare professionals in identifying cognitive impairment, with CHWs referring nearly all identified cases for further care. Qualitative feedback indicated that CHWs have a good rapport with the community and can play a valuable role in linking older adults to healthcare services. The study concludes that using CHWs for screening and referral is feasible but requires ongoing training and support. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore implementation strategies.
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Resource Topic: CHW, Older adults
Resource Type: Mixed Methods
Year: 2023
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Uganda
Publisher May Restrict Access: No