This study tested a training program in Pakistan to teach community health workers (CHWs) how to use lung ultrasound to diagnose pneumonia in children. Experts from Canada trained both experienced local health workers (local champions) and CHWs with no prior ultrasound experience. The trained CHWs and champions then scanned children with suspected pneumonia, and their results … [Read more...] about A Train-the-Trainer Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Program for Pediatric Pneumonia in a Low-Resource Setting
Patterns of care-seeking for postpartum symptoms in urban Karachi, Pakistan: implications for intervention design
This study looked at why women in semi-urban Karachi, Pakistan, often delay getting proper care for postpartum (PP) sepsis, a serious health risk after childbirth. Interviews with women, family members, birth attendants, and health workers showed that many women don’t recognize the danger signs, rely on others to make health decisions, and often seek help from untrained … [Read more...] about Patterns of care-seeking for postpartum symptoms in urban Karachi, Pakistan: implications for intervention design
Scaling an Evidence-Based Community Health Worker Program With Fidelity: Results and Lessons Learned
This study looked at how a structured community health worker (CHW) program called IMPaCT was put into place at five different sites. The program helps CHWs get proper training, support, and supervision while being flexible to local needs. Three of the five sites successfully ran the program for three years and saw fewer hospital visits among patients. The results suggest that … [Read more...] about Scaling an Evidence-Based Community Health Worker Program With Fidelity: Results and Lessons Learned
Task-sharing for non-communicable disease prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries in the context of health worker shortages: A systematic review
This study looked at how sharing medical tasks with non-physician health workers like nurses and community health workers can help manage diseases like heart problems, diabetes, cancer, and mental illness in low- and middle-income countries. It reviewed 149 studies from 31 countries and found that most showed positive results. Task-sharing was also found to lower healthcare … [Read more...] about Task-sharing for non-communicable disease prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries in the context of health worker shortages: A systematic review
Community Health Workers Equipped with an mHealth Application Can Accurately Diagnose Hypertension in Rural Guatemala
In rural Guatemala, a study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) using a mobile app could accurately diagnose high blood pressure (hypertension). CHWs assessed patients alongside doctors, and their results were very similar. The CHWs identified hypertension nearly as accurately as physicians, with over 90% agreement. This suggests that with the help of mobile tools, … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers Equipped with an mHealth Application Can Accurately Diagnose Hypertension in Rural Guatemala