Close-to-community health service (CTC) providers serve as critical support in low- and middle-income countries with limited access to formalized health care providers. However, motivational challenges cause CTC providers to suffer high rates of turnover. Frederique Vallieres conducted interviews and discussions with CTC providers across six countries to develop a survey … [Read more...] about Measuring motivation among close-to-community health workers: developing the CTC Provider Motivational Indicator Scale across six countries
Learning from community health worker programs, big and small
CHW programs demonstrate the potential for great impacts on population health, but interventions sometimes fail as a result of poor transitioning from program piloting to full scale implementation. Stephen Hodgins outlines some of the reasons these programs fail or succeed. He recommends expansions of research conducted both during intervention piloting and also at broad … [Read more...] about Learning from community health worker programs, big and small
COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for community-centered population health: Community health workers at the center
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the US healthcare system and the impacts of underinvestment in public health. Hobert Goldfield and colleagues outlined several state responses to the virus and the importance of CHWs in reducing its spread. The researchers called for governments to recruit greater CHW engagement in state response planning. … [Read more...] about COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for community-centered population health: Community health workers at the center
COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems
The health workforce in general and CHWs in particular played an instrumental role in curbing the effects of the 2014-2016 Ebola virus outbreak. Lyudmila Neponmnyashchiy and her colleagues provide a brief comparison between the Ebola virus outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for sub-Saharan African governments to invest in CHW workforce strengthening and … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems
Community health workers reveal COVID-19 disaster in Brazil
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazilian CHWs have received limited access to infection control training and personal protective equipment due to a lack of recognition as health professionals by the government. Gabriela Lotta and her colleagues describe the impacts of these decisions on CHW health and wellbeing. … [Read more...] about Community health workers reveal COVID-19 disaster in Brazil