After the Alma Ata declaration, SAARC countries established community health workers (CHWs) to address primary healthcare needs, initially focusing on maternal and child health. Now facing rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues, these countries are creating specialized CHWs for these new challenges. The effectiveness of CHWs, especially during crises, … [Read more...] about Reimagining the role of community health workers in saarc countries
Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: An opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance primary healthcare systems linkages
Public schools can improve health, but children's needs in rural areas are under-researched. This study assessed children's health and the role of community health workers (CHWs) in rural Rwandan schools. Surveys and interviews with 479 participants (425 community members, 54 teachers) revealed that 46% rated children's health as poor. Factors linked to better health included … [Read more...] about Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: An opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance primary healthcare systems linkages
Perception and reasons for the choice of informal provider among women receiving antenatal care services from traditional birth attendants in rural communities of Lagos state, Nigeria
Unskilled delivery, especially with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), poses a major risk to reducing maternal mortality in Africa. This study examined why pregnant women in rural Lagos, Nigeria, continue to use TBA services. Among 347 pregnant women surveyed, 70.3% used only TBA services, while 29.7% used both TBA and healthcare facilities. Positive perceptions of TBAs were … [Read more...] about Perception and reasons for the choice of informal provider among women receiving antenatal care services from traditional birth attendants in rural communities of Lagos state, Nigeria
The Power of Tailoring a Government-Funded Heart Health Program for Marginalized Women: Lessons from WISEWOMAN and Mujer Poderosa/Powerful Woman
The PA-WISE program, funded by the CDC’s WISEWOMAN award, aims to prevent cardiovascular disease in Pennsylvania, especially among low-income women. PA-WISE partnered with Latino Connection to create Mujer Poderosa/Powerful Woman (MP/PW), using bilingual community health workers to engage and educate marginalized women. Latino Connection found that different communities … [Read more...] about The Power of Tailoring a Government-Funded Heart Health Program for Marginalized Women: Lessons from WISEWOMAN and Mujer Poderosa/Powerful Woman
Testing an Innovative Approach to Improve Hypertension Management at a Federally Qualified Health Center
Hypertension control rates are still inadequate in the U.S. and Los Angeles County. To address this, QueensCare Health Centers launched a team-based hypertension management program led by clinical pharmacists. The program tackled barriers at the system, provider, and patient levels. Strategies included integrating self-monitored blood pressure data into electronic health … [Read more...] about Testing an Innovative Approach to Improve Hypertension Management at a Federally Qualified Health Center