The dramatic shortage of skilled providers creates challenges to the provision of both facility- and community-based healthcare services, including services for maternal and newborn health (MNH). Task shifting has been promoted as one response to this global health worker crisis, shifting tasks to one provider cadre and from another. The emerging global literature, as well … [Read more...] about Task shifting in maternal and newborn health care: Key components from policy to implementation
Addressing Chronic Disease through Community Health Workers: A policy and systems-level approach
This document provides guidance and resources for implementing recommendations to integrate community health workers (CHWs) into community-based efforts to prevent chronic disease. After providing general information on CHWs in the United States, this document sets forth evidence demonstrating the value and impact of CHWs in preventing and managing a variety of chronic … [Read more...] about Addressing Chronic Disease through Community Health Workers: A policy and systems-level approach
A framework for integrating childhood tuberculosis into community-based child health care
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 500,000 children each year are diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and 64,000 HIV-negative children die annually due to TB. The true burden of childhood TB is unknown; children are often undiagnosed and therefore do not receive appropriate care. Childhood TB is often seen with other common childhood illnesses such as … [Read more...] about A framework for integrating childhood tuberculosis into community-based child health care
Valuing the work of unpaid community health workers and exploring the incentives to volunteering in rural Africa
Community health worker (CHW) programmes are currently being scaled-up in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to healthcare. CHWs are often volunteers; from an economic perspective, this raises considerations whether reliance on an unpaid workforce is sustainable and how to appropriately cost and value the work of CHWs. Both these questions can be informed by an understanding … [Read more...] about Valuing the work of unpaid community health workers and exploring the incentives to volunteering in rural Africa
Engaging community health workers in maternal and newborn care in eastern Uganda
Community health workers (CHWs) have been employed in a number of low- and middle-income countries as part of primary health care strategies, but the packages vary across and even within countries. The experiences and motivations of a multipurpose CHW in providing maternal and newborn health have not been well described. This study examined the perceptions of community members … [Read more...] about Engaging community health workers in maternal and newborn care in eastern Uganda