This study examined the results of training Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) as primary eye care (PEC) workers. ASHAs performed eye screenings and referred patients to optometrists. After program implementation, optometrists saw an average increase in monthly outpatient department visits. The study concludes that, with proper training, ASHAs can provide PEC services. … [Read more...] about Evaluation of a training program on primary eye care for an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in an urban district
Evidence-Based Community Health Worker Program Addresses Unmet Social Needs And Generates Positive Return On Investment
This study presents a return-on-investment analysis based on a randomized controlled trial of Individualized Management for Patient-Centered Targets (IMPaCT) for a CHW intervention addressing unmet social needs for disadvantaged populations. Results indicate a decrease in inpatient charges and a return of $2.47 for every $1.00 invested in the program. … [Read more...] about Evidence-Based Community Health Worker Program Addresses Unmet Social Needs And Generates Positive Return On Investment
The cost of the training and supervision of community health workers to improve exclusive breastfeeding amongst mothers in a cluster randomised controlled trial in South Africa
This study used a retrospective cost analysis to assess the effectiveness of a randomized control trial of CHW support for pregnant women and women with infants <1 year of age in South Africa. Exclusive breastfeeding and women’s knowledge of childcare practices improved significantly in intervention sites. This intervention cost $7,647.88 per additional mother practicing … [Read more...] about The cost of the training and supervision of community health workers to improve exclusive breastfeeding amongst mothers in a cluster randomised controlled trial in South Africa
Development assistance for community health workers in 114 low- and middle-income countries, 2007–2017
To grow and be sustained, CHW programs require funding. This study analyzed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data from 2007 to 2017 to evaluate investments in CHW programs. The results indicated that funds for CHW programs represent a small fraction of investments in public health development, and have reduced in recent years. The researchers called for … [Read more...] about Development assistance for community health workers in 114 low- and middle-income countries, 2007–2017
‘Do you trust those data?’—a mixed-methods study assessing the quality of data reported by community health workers in Kenya and Malawi
The results of this study indicate large gaps in data reporting with only 15% of data consistently reported by CHWs. Reasons for poor data quality included lack of data collection tools, inadequate training, insufficient supervision, and poor quality control monitoring, to name a few. The authors emphasized the importance of focusing on these issues to achieve accurate data … [Read more...] about ‘Do you trust those data?’—a mixed-methods study assessing the quality of data reported by community health workers in Kenya and Malawi

