Authors: Natalie Campbell, Eva Schiffer, Ann Buxbaum,c Elizabeth McLean, Cary Perry, Tara M Sullivane
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. An assessment of health information needs, however, found that these
frontline workers often lacked essential health information. 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 mobile phone intervention, a participatory evaluation method called Net-Map
was used, an approach built on traditional social network analysis. Together, CHWs and district personnel discussed
information needs and gaps and the roles of different actors in their information networks. They then used drawings and
3-dimensional objects to create baseline and endline maps showing the linkages and levels of influence among members
of the information network. Net-Map provided them with powerful evidence of differences before and after the mobile
phone initiative. At baseline, CHWs were not mentioned as actors in the information network, while at endline they were
seen to have significant connections with colleagues, beneficiaries, supervisors, and district health facilities, as both
recipients and providers of information. Focus groups with CHWs complemented the Net-Map findings with reports of
increased self-confidence and greater trust by their communities. These qualitative results were bolstered by surveys that
showed decreases in stockouts of essential medicines, lower communication costs, wider service coverage, and more
efficient referrals. As an innovative, participatory form of social network analysis, Net-Map yielded important visual,
quantitative, and qualitative information at reasonable cost.
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Resource Topic: Community Assessment, Community Case Management, Community Health Workers/Volunteers, Data Collection, Job aids, Supplies, Training, mHealth and Technology
Resource Type: Journal articles
Year: 2013
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Malawi
Publisher May Restrict Access: No