Ethiopia received recognition as one of sub-Saharan Africa’s models of primary care, due in part to training and deploying over 30,000 Health Extension Workers since 2004. Kevin Croke discusses factors enabling the country to implement the program at scale. … [Read more...] about The origins of Ethiopia’s primary health care expansion: The politics of state building and health system strengthening
Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Only one in five Nepali women seek care following gender-based violence (GBV). Myra Betron and colleagues evaluated whether female community health volunteers (fCHVs), with their trusted role in society, could improve care for these women. After attending a single day of training, fCHVs reported increased knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing care for GBV. One year … [Read more...] about Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Impacts of health system physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated by assigning tasks that require limited specialized knowledge to non-physician healthcare workers, including CHWs. Joseph Maria and colleagues reviewed 46 research studies to understand how this so-called “task-sharing” is applied to manage type 2 diabetes in LMICs. … [Read more...] about Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Factors influencing the performance of community health workers: A qualitative study of Anganwadi Workers from Bihar, India
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) in India’s Child Development Services program represent the largest CHW cadre in the world, but factors influencing employee performance remain understudied. Aparna John and colleagues interviewed AWWs to understand factors driving their performance within the program. Results indicated that the most common constraints to performance included a lack of … [Read more...] about Factors influencing the performance of community health workers: A qualitative study of Anganwadi Workers from Bihar, India
Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico: Project ECHO
The University of New Mexico created Project ECHO to enable telementoring between health experts and health care providers in isolated and underserved areas. Joanna Katzman evaluated the effectiveness of 10 Project ECHO programs designed to provide COVID-19-related mentoring in New Mexico, among which included a seven week program to connect CHWs with subject matter experts. … [Read more...] about Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico: Project ECHO