Authors: Manami Uehara, Inthanomchanh Vongphoumy, Noudéhouénou Credo Adelphe Ahissou, Tiengkham Pongvongsa, Khampheng Phongluxa, Jun Kobayashi
This study looked at how pairing male and female village health volunteers in remote Lao communities affects maternal health outreach. In areas where most CHWs are men, women often feel uncomfortable discussing pregnancy and childbirth with them. The paired model allowed female volunteers to support mothers directly, while male volunteers engaged husbands and community leaders. This approach helped build trust, improved use of maternal health services, and encouraged families to be more supportive. Still, challenges such as recruiting women, literacy barriers, and limited training and supervision slowed progress. The findings suggest that pairing CHWs by gender can strengthen maternal health services, but it requires stronger institutional backing, better training, and policies that reflect local cultural needs.
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Resource Topic: CHW programs, Maternal healthcare
Resource Type: Qualitative
Year: 2025
Region: Asia
Country: Laos
Publisher May Restrict Access: No