In rural Rwanda, many schoolchildren face poor health, and schools often lack health workers to support their well-being. A study found that children’s health improves when schools have health promotion teams and teachers are familiar with health programs. Community health workers (CHWs) can act as vital links between schools, communities, and health centers. The Health … [Read more...] about Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: an opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance school health promotion and primary healthcare systems linkages
A cross-sectional study of point-of-care lactate testing in integrated community care management (ICCM) for children with acute respiratory illness in rural uganda
Integrated community case management (iCCM) relies on village health workers (VHWs) to assess sick children and refer severe cases. A study in rural Uganda tested if measuring lactate levels, a marker of severe illness, could improve referrals. Among 204 children with fever and cough, 12% had elevated lactate levels, but these were often not linked to visible danger signs used … [Read more...] about A cross-sectional study of point-of-care lactate testing in integrated community care management (ICCM) for children with acute respiratory illness in rural uganda
How community-based health workers fulfil their roles in epidemic disease surveillance: a case study from Burkina Faso
In 2016, Burkina Faso introduced a community health worker (CHW) model for disease surveillance, assigning two CHWs per village. A study in Dandé Health District found that CHWs face challenges like poor training, lack of tools, and no financial support. Despite this, community recognition motivates them. Financial incentives and non-financial rewards like status are crucial to … [Read more...] about How community-based health workers fulfil their roles in epidemic disease surveillance: a case study from Burkina Faso
Feasibility and challenges in sustaining a community based surveillance system in post-Ebola Sierra Leone
Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) systems help detect and report diseases early in outbreak-prone areas. After the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone trained community health workers (CHWs) to monitor 11 key health conditions. A 2019 study found that CBS matched disease reports from health facilities in functional areas, improving early detection. However, challenges like funding … [Read more...] about Feasibility and challenges in sustaining a community based surveillance system in post-Ebola Sierra Leone
Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention in vulnerable families in Sierra Leone: a pilot feasibility study
Household violence is common in low- and middle-income countries, harming mental health and child development. This study tested a home-visiting program in rural Sierra Leone to improve parenting and reduce violence. Community Health Workers were trained to deliver the intervention to families with young children. Compared to standard care, the program improved caregiver-child … [Read more...] about Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention in vulnerable families in Sierra Leone: a pilot feasibility study