Community health workers (CHWs) can help to achieve the goals of the Affordable Care Act—better health, better care, and lower costs. CHWs are typically laypeople whose close connections with a community enable them to win trust and improve health and health services for those they serve. However, challenges with financing structures, workforce training, and service … [Read more...] about Integrating Community Health Workers into a Reformed Health Care System
Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs
In the face of global health worker shortages, community health workers (CHWs) are an important health care delivery strategy for underserved populations. In Uganda, community-based programs often use volunteer CHWs to extend services, including family planning, in rural areas. This study examined factors related to CHW motivation and level of activity in 3 family planning … [Read more...] about Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs
Scaling up delivery of contraceptive implants in sub-Saharan Africa: operational experiences of Marie Stopes International
Contraceptive implants offer promising opportunities for addressing the high and growing unmet need for modern contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa. Marie Stopes International (MSI) offers implants as one of many family planning options. High levels of client satisfaction were attained alongside service provision scale up by using existing MSI service delivery channels—mobile … [Read more...] about Scaling up delivery of contraceptive implants in sub-Saharan Africa: operational experiences of Marie Stopes International
Taking knowledge for health the extra mile: participatory evaluation of a mobile phone intervention for community health workers in Malawi
In Malawi, where the majority of the population resides in rural areas, community health workers (CHWs) are the first, and often only, providers of health services. A pilot project, implemented in 2 rural districts of Malawi between 2010 and 2011, introduced a mobile phone system to strengthen knowledge exchange within networks of CHWs and district staff. To evaluate the … [Read more...] about Taking knowledge for health the extra mile: participatory evaluation of a mobile phone intervention for community health workers in Malawi
Cell phones and CHWs: a transformational marriage?
Community health workers (CHWs) have a key role to play if we are to achieve our ambitious goals to reduce child and maternal mortality globally. A wide diversity of CHW cadres have been established in many countries, both in the public sector and with nongovernmental organizations, yet several major challenges have emerged. Mobile phones can be transformative for community … [Read more...] about Cell phones and CHWs: a transformational marriage?