This study looked at whether full-time, paid community health workers could improve contraceptive use after childbirth in remote areas of Nepal. After the program started, many more women used contraception both soon after giving birth and later in the postpartum period. Ongoing support from community health workers helped women make decisions despite fears about side effects … [Read more...] about “Now that they come to our doorsteps to teach us these things…” – Postpartum contraception outcomes from a pre-post effectiveness-implementation study of an integrated community health worker intervention in rural Nepal
Effectiveness of a Home-based Approach to Child Contact Investigation and Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Management by Community Health Workers in Ethiopia: A Pragmatic Cluster-randomized Trial
This study looked at whether community health workers visiting families at home could help more children start treatment to prevent tuberculosis. Compared to standard clinic-based care, home visits led to about 40% more children beginning preventive treatment, with similar completion and safety outcomes in both groups. While the difference was not statistically certain, the … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of a Home-based Approach to Child Contact Investigation and Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Management by Community Health Workers in Ethiopia: A Pragmatic Cluster-randomized Trial
Newborn screening and referral for congenital anomalies by lay health workers in Pakistan: a mixed-methods study to evaluate the effectiveness of a co-created educational intervention
This study tested a training program for lay health workers in Karachi to screen newborns for visible birth defects and refer families for care. After the four-week training, participants showed clear improvement in knowledge and skills, with high agreement with a physician’s assessments. Health workers gave positive feedback on the program, highlighting effective teaching and … [Read more...] about Newborn screening and referral for congenital anomalies by lay health workers in Pakistan: a mixed-methods study to evaluate the effectiveness of a co-created educational intervention
A Lay Health Worker-Led Symptom Intervention and Acute Care Use in Older Adults With Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial
This study tested whether lay health workers could help older adults with cancer by regularly checking their symptoms by phone. Patients who received these assessments had fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations, lower healthcare costs, and were less likely to use acute care near the end of life. The findings suggest that lay health worker–led symptom monitoring can improve … [Read more...] about A Lay Health Worker-Led Symptom Intervention and Acute Care Use in Older Adults With Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Systematic review of healthcare-led and lay-led interventions for type 2 diabetes in community settings
This meta-analysis looked at community-based programs for people with type 2 diabetes, including those led by non-healthcare workers or supported by peers. These programs improved blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, and body weight, though they didn’t significantly change HDL or LDL levels. Professional-led programs were slightly more effective than non-professional ones, … [Read more...] about Systematic review of healthcare-led and lay-led interventions for type 2 diabetes in community settings