This literature review provides an overview of the concepts and practices among CHWs from across a range of developing and developed countries. The authors review various ways that CHWs have been used in different settings and analyze the role, management, and other factors that influence performance of CHWs. They also illustrate some of the policy challenges that exist in … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers: A Review of Concepts, Practice, and Policy Concerns
Task shifting to tackle health worker shortages
This WHO report focuses on the “train” aspect of the task-shifting idea of "treat, train, retain," in the effort to reduce the burden on existing healthcare professionals by shifting certain tasks to others such as CHWs. This paper outlines the WHO’s approach to the training crisis. … [Read more...] about Task shifting to tackle health worker shortages
A Guide for Training Community Health Workers/Volunteers to Provide Maternal and Newborn Health Messages
This training guide focuses on building the capacity of CHWs and volunteers to use counseling cards to promote the health of women and newborns at home through preventive care, identification of problems, and seeking appropriate care. The guide trains CHWs to identify and interact with women of reproductive age, as well as their families, community and religious leaders, and … [Read more...] about A Guide for Training Community Health Workers/Volunteers to Provide Maternal and Newborn Health Messages
Management of sick children by community health workers: intervention models and programme examples
This report examines approaches for the community management of sick children, specifically antimicrobial treatments by CHWs. It is based on an extensive review of literature, including peer reviewed studies, reports, program descriptions and program evaluations. … [Read more...] about Management of sick children by community health workers: intervention models and programme examples
Community-Based Health Workers Can Safely and Effectively Administer Injectable Contraceptives
In an effort to inform future policies and programs, WHO, USAID, and Family Health International (FHI) convened a consultation group on injectable contraceptives and CHWs. The report concludes that CHWs, given appropriate training, can provide contraceptive injectables effectively and that the expanded use of injectable contraceptives by CHWs will provide underserved … [Read more...] about Community-Based Health Workers Can Safely and Effectively Administer Injectable Contraceptives