CHWs in rural primary care settings can contribute to reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are especially valuable in countries like India, where COPD is the second leading cause of disease and is responsible for the deaths of as many as one million residents annually. Gupta and colleagues assessed the … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW) training in monitoring and care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural Gujarat, India
Unintended pregnancy and maternal health complications: cross-sectional analysis of data from rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Indian women represent one in every seven of the 85 million women who experience unintended pregnancy each year. This high concentration is likely due to limited engagement with the local health system and puts women at risk of maternal health complications like pre-eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum pre-eclampsia. Nabamllika Dehingia and colleagues assessed … [Read more...] about Unintended pregnancy and maternal health complications: cross-sectional analysis of data from rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Modelling cost benefit of community-oriented primary care in rural South Africa
Research demonstrates the effectiveness of CHWs and community-based health programs to expand universal health care to low-income, rural populations. Rod Bennett and his colleagues assessed the cost and feasibility of implementing a CHW program in the Waterberg district of Limpopo province in South Africa, a region that has not yet achieved community-oriented primary care. The … [Read more...] about Modelling cost benefit of community-oriented primary care in rural South Africa
Community gatekeepers and the conundrum of confidentiality and coercion
This commentary responds to an article by Sunu Thomas (2020) describing concerns about the role of confidentiality when a research participant discloses sensitive personal information while a CHW is present. The author describes concerns about whether CHWs should bridge the gap between communities and researchers and whether their presence during data collection represents a … [Read more...] about Community gatekeepers and the conundrum of confidentiality and coercion
Supporting holistic care for patients with tuberculosis in a remote Indigenous community: a case report.
Tuberculosis in Australia has been eradicated in nearly all communities, with the exception of rare cases in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities. The rarity of this disease presents a challenge to the care of those with positive diagnoses, as local workers may be inexperienced and underprepared to address TB. Andrea Miller and colleagues report a case study … [Read more...] about Supporting holistic care for patients with tuberculosis in a remote Indigenous community: a case report.