Hypertension and diabetes are major challenges in low-income areas, where many people lack diagnosis or care. In Lesotho, a program showed that community health workers (CHWs) using a tablet-based tool can effectively screen for these conditions. Scaling up is challenging, as many CHWs lack pay, training, and support, and adding tasks can strain them. Careful integration, CHW … [Read more...] about Benefits and limitations of rigorous cost analyses in community health
Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
In rural Lesotho, community health workers (CHWs) used a tablet-based clinical decision support app to screen adults for hypertension and diabetes, reaching high coverage at moderate costs. Over 6 months, CHWs screened 88% of eligible adults for hypertension and 95% for diabetes. The cost per person screened was $41 in the project model and $17 in a routine implementation … [Read more...] about Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
Strengthening the role of community health workers through supportive supervision: A Scoping Review
This review looked at how supportive supervision helps CHWs do their work better. After examining 37 studies, the picture is clear: when CHWs get regular guidance, feedback, and chances to learn with peers, they stay motivated and provide better care. Approaches that use mentorship, shared problem-solving, and community involvement tend to work well. The biggest challenges are … [Read more...] about Strengthening the role of community health workers through supportive supervision: A Scoping Review
Sustaining Community Health Workforce Through E-Governance: Addressing Motivation, Retention, and Public Health Resilience
This paper looks at why many CHW programs struggle and argues that poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and underestimated workloads play a big part. It notes that even before COVID-19, many low- and middle-income countries were already using digital tools to address health challenges, but we still know little about how e-governance can support a strong and sustainable CHW … [Read more...] about Sustaining Community Health Workforce Through E-Governance: Addressing Motivation, Retention, and Public Health Resilience
Implementation of an integrated community-based suicide prevention programme, Gujarat, India: cluster randomised controlled trial
This study tested a large suicide-prevention program in rural India. The program combined school lessons on mental health, safe storage of pesticides, and CHW training to spot and support people at risk. Across 124 villages, the program did not reduce the overall number of suicide attempts and deaths when combined, but it did lead to fewer deaths by suicide. Students who … [Read more...] about Implementation of an integrated community-based suicide prevention programme, Gujarat, India: cluster randomised controlled trial