CHWs can play a significant role in mitigating the impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change, and global noncommunicable diseases on health by providing culturally-relevant education and behavioral interventions. Manas Behera and colleagues performed a review of the literature to understand how CHWs impact these factors on a global scale. The researchers identified four … [Read more...] about Planetary health and the role of community health workers
Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Commune health centers were inaugurated in 2015 in Vietnam to provide methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for people experiencing both HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). Diep Bich Nguyen evaluated challenges to provision of care experienced by CHWs working in commune health centers. Challenges often occurred as a result of stigmatization toward people with SUDs and a … [Read more...] about Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Using Community Health Workers and a Smartphone Application to Improve Diabetes Control in Rural Guatemala
CHWs in low- and middle-income countries frequently use mobile health (mHealth) technology to support diabetes management. Sean Duffy and colleagues evaluated whether or not mHealth applications could be used to provide CHWs with clinical decision support for primary diabetes management in Guatemala. Results indicated that CHWs effectively helped patients manage diabetes during … [Read more...] about Using Community Health Workers and a Smartphone Application to Improve Diabetes Control in Rural Guatemala
How COVID-19 Has Affected Frontline Workers in Brazil: A Comparative Analysis of Nurses and Community Health Workers
Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers addressed emergency situations by applying their own discretion and utilizing whichever tools were available to support their goals. Gabriela Lotta and colleagues evaluated how decisions made by CHWs were influenced by the early stages of the pandemic between March and July in Brazil. Results indicated that ambiguous federal … [Read more...] about How COVID-19 Has Affected Frontline Workers in Brazil: A Comparative Analysis of Nurses and Community Health Workers
Contributions of the lay workers in providing home-based treatment adherence support to patients with advanced HIV/AIDS disease in low-income settings: Lessons learned from the field in Tanzania and Zambia
Provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Eastern and Southern Africa remains limited due to clinical staffing shortages. Godfather Kimaro and colleagues evaluated whether lay health workers in Tanzania and Zambia could reduce the burden of patients on hospital staffing. Results indicated that lay health workers were successful at identifying ART related side effects and … [Read more...] about Contributions of the lay workers in providing home-based treatment adherence support to patients with advanced HIV/AIDS disease in low-income settings: Lessons learned from the field in Tanzania and Zambia