Despite growing evidence of the efficacy of CHW programs to achieve universal health coverage, limited short-term program funding in the US constrains the sustainability of these programs. Renee Mehra and colleagues examined factors contributing to sustainability of CHW programs targeting maternal health. They identified three key themes influencing program sustainability: … [Read more...] about Considerations for building sustainable community health worker programs to improve maternal health
Can people-centered community-oriented interventions improve skilled birth attendance? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in rural communities of Cambodia, Kenya, and Zambia
Skilled birth attendance provided by CHWs increases access to culturally relevant treatment support, home-based care, and antenatal care. One way to strengthen CHW systems and subsequent provision of care relies on community scorecards to improve health service utilization. Anbrasi Edward and colleagues evaluated the effects of combined use of community scorecards and CHW … [Read more...] about Can people-centered community-oriented interventions improve skilled birth attendance? Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in rural communities of Cambodia, Kenya, and Zambia
Household coverage, quality and costs of care provided by community health worker teams and the determining factors: findings from a mixed methods study in South Africa
Insufficient supervision prevents CHWs from realizing their potential to achieve universal health coverage. Jane Goudge and colleagues evaluated the impacts of various configurations of supervisors on CHW coverage, quality of care, and costs of service provision in Sedibeng, South Africa. CHWs visited 17% of households in the last year, conducting one-to-two visits per day and … [Read more...] about Household coverage, quality and costs of care provided by community health worker teams and the determining factors: findings from a mixed methods study in South Africa
Evaluating the effect of village health workers on hospital admission rates and their economic impact in the Kingdom of Bhutan
Village Health Workers (VHWs) in Bhutan provide cost-fee healthcare support that has enabled the country to achieve 95% immunization coverage and nearly eliminate several diseases, including malaria and neonatal tetanus. Sacha Hauc and colleagues evaluated the impacts of VHWs on health-related cost savings and hospital admission rates. Addition of a single VHW to a local health … [Read more...] about Evaluating the effect of village health workers on hospital admission rates and their economic impact in the Kingdom of Bhutan
Beyond the Rhetoric of Equity: Will the Frontline Healthcare Workers Who Serve the Poor Be Prioritized for the COVID Vaccine?
An international coalition of organizations representing 80 countries set an aggressive goal of making 2 billion Covid-19 vaccinations available by the end of 2021. Populations prioritized to receive vaccination include high risk and vulnerable persons and frontline healthcare workers. The definition of “frontline healthcare worker”, however, remains ambiguous and is likely to … [Read more...] about Beyond the Rhetoric of Equity: Will the Frontline Healthcare Workers Who Serve the Poor Be Prioritized for the COVID Vaccine?
