This study looked at how village health volunteers (VHVs) in rural Thailand support people with mental health needs. Interviews with VHVs, nurses, caregivers, and a person with lived experience showed that VHVs mostly focus on physical health and have little training or support for mental health care. Challenges include stigma, heavy workloads, and lack of mental health … [Read more...] about Supporting healthcare in rural communities in Thailand: An exploratory qualitative study to understand the role and current mental health practices of village health volunteers
Effect of enhancing village health volunteer ability to promote engaged community-based interprofessional education
This study tested a short training program for village health volunteers (VHVs) to help them better support health education in their communities. After attending a two-day workshop, VHVs showed big improvements in their knowledge, attitudes, motivation, communication, and ability to understand health systems. However, there was no major change in their listening skills. Most … [Read more...] about Effect of enhancing village health volunteer ability to promote engaged community-based interprofessional education
Community Health Workers: A Narrative Review of a Curriculum and Training program for Low-income Communities Facing Limited Access to Healthcare
This review looks at a free training program that prepares Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low-resource areas to improve healthcare access and reduce health inequalities. The program follows WHO guidelines and includes both initial training and ongoing learning. It has helped underserved communities by training CHWs to provide basic care and health education, especially … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers: A Narrative Review of a Curriculum and Training program for Low-income Communities Facing Limited Access to Healthcare
An intersectional analysis of the participation of community health workers in matrix support in mental health
This study looked at how gender, race, and education affect the involvement of community health workers in mental health support teams in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Most community health workers were Black women with high school education, while most mental health professionals were white women with college degrees. These differences led to unequal relationships and often excluded … [Read more...] about An intersectional analysis of the participation of community health workers in matrix support in mental health
Epidemiology of Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Displacement Settings: Surveillance Gaps and Community-Based Solutions in Refugee Camps
This study looked at how well disease outbreaks are tracked in five refugee camps across Sudan, Syria, and South Sudan. Most outbreaks were reported late—over 70% took more than 72 hours to report—leading to high death rates from diseases like cholera and hepatitis E. Many camps didn’t have early warning systems or ways for the community to report health issues. While community … [Read more...] about Epidemiology of Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Displacement Settings: Surveillance Gaps and Community-Based Solutions in Refugee Camps