South Africa has the world’s largest HIV treatment program, but healthcare workers often lack up-to-date knowledge on drug interactions, like those for dolutegravir. A survey of 1,950 workers showed major knowledge gaps, with only 56% having received training. To address this, a WhatsApp-based microlearning program was tested with nurses and community health workers in rural … [Read more...] about Designing and testing a solution to fill ART knowledge gaps at primary healthcare level: WhatsApp-based microlearning
Benefits and limitations of rigorous cost analyses in community health
Hypertension and diabetes are major challenges in low-income areas, where many people lack diagnosis or care. In Lesotho, a program showed that community health workers (CHWs) using a tablet-based tool can effectively screen for these conditions. Scaling up is challenging, as many CHWs lack pay, training, and support, and adding tasks can strain them. Careful integration, CHW … [Read more...] about Benefits and limitations of rigorous cost analyses in community health
Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
In rural Lesotho, community health workers (CHWs) used a tablet-based clinical decision support app to screen adults for hypertension and diabetes, reaching high coverage at moderate costs. Over 6 months, CHWs screened 88% of eligible adults for hypertension and 95% for diabetes. The cost per person screened was $41 in the project model and $17 in a routine implementation … [Read more...] about Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
Strengthening the role of community health workers through supportive supervision: A Scoping Review
This review looked at how supportive supervision helps CHWs do their work better. After examining 37 studies, the picture is clear: when CHWs get regular guidance, feedback, and chances to learn with peers, they stay motivated and provide better care. Approaches that use mentorship, shared problem-solving, and community involvement tend to work well. The biggest challenges are … [Read more...] about Strengthening the role of community health workers through supportive supervision: A Scoping Review
Sustaining Community Health Workforce Through E-Governance: Addressing Motivation, Retention, and Public Health Resilience
This paper looks at why many CHW programs struggle and argues that poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and underestimated workloads play a big part. It notes that even before COVID-19, many low- and middle-income countries were already using digital tools to address health challenges, but we still know little about how e-governance can support a strong and sustainable CHW … [Read more...] about Sustaining Community Health Workforce Through E-Governance: Addressing Motivation, Retention, and Public Health Resilience