scholarly journals Measuring and understanding motivation among community health workers in rural health facilities in India-a mixed method study

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaya Prasad Tripathy ◽  
Sonu Goel ◽  
Ajay M. V. Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Mixed Method Study

scholarly journals Toward a geography of community health workers in Niger: a geospatial analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas P Oliphant ◽  
Nicolas Ray ◽  
Khaled Bensaid ◽  
Adama Ouedraogo ◽  
Asma Yaroh Gali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Community Case Management ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Integrated Community Case Management ◽  
Geographical Accessibility

Background Little is known about the geography of community health workers (CHWs), their contribution to geographical accessibility of primary health care (PHC) services, and strategies for optimizing efficiency of CHW deployment in the context of universal health coverage (UHC). Methods Using a complete georeferenced census of front-line health facilities and CHWs in Niger and other high resolution spatial datasets, we modelled travel times to front-line health facilities and CHWs between 2000-2013, accounting for training, essential commodities, and maximum population capacity. We estimated additional CHWs needed to maximize geographical accessibility of the population beyond the reach of existing front-line health facilities and CHWs. We assessed the efficiency of geographical targeting of the existing CHW network compared to modelled CHW networks designed to optimize geographical targeting of the estimated population, under-five deaths, and plasmodium falciparum malaria cases. Results The percent of the population within 60 minutes walking to the nearest CHW increased from 0·0% to 17·5% between 2000-2013, with 15·5% within 60 minutes walking to the nearest CHW trained on integrated community case management (iCCM) — making PHC services and iCCM, specifically, geographically accessible for an estimated 2·3 million and 2·0 million additional people, respectively. An estimated 10·4 million people (59·0%) remained beyond a 60-minute catchment of front-line health facilities and CHWs. Optimal deployment of 8064 additional CHWs could increase geographic coverage of the estimated total population from 41·5% to 73·6%. Geographical targeting of the existing CHW network was inefficient but optimized CHW networks could improve efficiency by 55·0%-81·9%, depending on targeting metric. Interpretations We provide the first high-resolution maps and estimates of geographical accessibility to CHWs at national scale, highlighting improvements between 2000-2013 in Niger, geographies where gaps remained, approaches for improving targeting, and the importance of putting CHWs on the map to inform planning in the context of UHC.

scholarly journals Community Health Workers for Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lal Rawal ◽  
Shamim Jubayer ◽  
Shohel R Choudhury ◽  
Sheikh Mohammad Shariful Islam ◽  
Abu Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
And Control ◽  
Central Level

Abstract Objective: To examine the barriers and facilitators to engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) for Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevention and control in Bangladesh.Design: We used multipronged approaches, including a. Situation analyses using a literature review, key personnel and stakeholders’ meetings, and exploratory studies. A grounded theory approach was used for qualitative data collection, and data were analysed thematically.Setting: Data were collected from health facilities across three districts in Bangladesh, and two stakeholder consultative meetings were conducted at the central level.Participants: We conducted in-depth interviews with CHWs (Health Inspector; Community Health Care Provider; Health Assistant and Health Supervisor) (n=4); key informant interviews with central level health policymakers/ managers (n=15) and focus group discussions with CHWs (4 FGDs; total n=29). Participants in a stakeholder consultative meeting included members from the government (n=4), non-government organisations (n=2), private sector (n=1) and universities (n=2).Results: The CHWs in Bangladesh deliver a wide range of public health programs. They also provide several NCDs specific services, including screening, provisional diagnosis, and health education and counselling for common NCDs, dispatching of basic medications, and referral to relevant health facilities. These services are being delivered from the sub-district health facility, community clinics and urban health clinics. The participants identified key challenges and barriers, which include lack of NCD specific guidelines, inadequate training, excessive workload, inadequate systems-level support, and lack of logistics supplies and drugs. The facilitating factors to engage CHWs included government commitment and program priority, development of NCD related policies and strategies, the establishment of NCD corners, community support systems, social recognition and staff motivation.Conclusion: Engaging CHWs has been a key driver to NCDs services delivery in Bangladesh. However, there is a need for capacity building of CHWs, systems-level support and maximizing CHWs engagement to prevention and control of NCDs in Bangladesh.

scholarly journals Availability of Essential Commodities and Related Bottlenecks for Community Health System: Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ami Pradhan ◽  
Erin Bogue ◽  
Benjamin Schreiber ◽  
Hannah Sarah Dini ◽  
Hitesh Hurkchand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hypothesis Test ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
National Level ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background: This paper explores the extent of community-level stock-out of essential and program commodities for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) among Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), and identifies the underlying bottlenecks leading to such stock-outs.Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted of published and grey literature. 48 studies containing information on the number or percentage of CHWs or health facilities (HFs) stocked-out, or reasons for stock-outs at these levels, were included. In addition, interviews were conducted with domain experts from different organizations working on community health to identify primary reasons for stock-outs. The qualitative data regarding reasons for stock-outs were categorized under different themes, using a content analysis method. Results: 48.09% [CI 95%: 39.28 - 56.90] of the Community Health Workers and 54.76 % [CI 95%: 43.54 - 65.98] of the health facilities in SSA countries included in this study experienced stock-outs of essential commodities. A hypothesis test showed no significant difference in stock-out rates between CHWs and HFs. The most frequently cited reason for CHW stock-outs was a lack of financial resources, leading to inadequate national level stocks, affecting supply available at the last mile. Moreover, issues at HF and CHW levels in the following areas contributed to stock-outs: transportation, data and estimation of needs, human resources, and stock management and storage. These significant bottlenecks hinder the ability of CHWs to save lives.Conclusion: Stock-outs of health commodities impact almost half of CHWs, preventing effective service delivery. Many factors contribute to stock-outs, which occur at all levels of the health supply chain. A system strengthening approach is necessary to reduce CHW stock-outs. Sparse data, differing definitions of stock-outs, and inconsistent reporting metrics posed significant challenges to analyzing results from reviewed studies. Therefore, a set of standard metrics to measure the rate, period, and frequency of stock-outs in future studies is recommended.

scholarly journals Community Health Workers and the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases Among Rural Health Clinics in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-346
Author(s):  
Aubrey L. Doede ◽  
Taylor E. Allen ◽  
JaʼLynn S. Gray ◽  
Austin G. Herbst ◽  
Madala C. Hlungwani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Rural Health Clinics

scholarly journals Feasibility of task-sharing with community health workers for the identification, emergency management and referral of women with pre-eclampsia, in Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperança Sevene ◽  
Helena Boene ◽  
Marianne Vidler ◽  
Anifa Valá ◽  
Salésio Macuacua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Community Level ◽  
System Level ◽  
Task Sharing ◽  
Care Providers

Abstract Background Maternal mortality is an important public health problem in low-income countries. Delays in reaching health facilities and insufficient health care professionals call for innovative community-level solutions. There is limited evidence on the role of community health workers in the management of pregnancy complications. This study aimed to describe the feasibility of task-sharing the initial screening and initiation of obstetric emergency care for pre-eclampsia/eclampsia from the primary healthcare providers to community health workers in Mozambique and document healthcare facility preparedness to respond to referrals. Method The study took place in Maputo and Gaza Provinces in southern Mozambique and aimed to inform the Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomized controlled trial. This was a mixed-methods study. The quantitative data was collected through self-administered questionnaires completed by community health workers and a health facility survey; this data was analysed using Stata v13. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with various community groups, health care providers, and policymakers. All discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim prior to thematic analysis using QSR NVivo 10. Data collection was complemented by reviewing existing documents regarding maternal health and community health worker policies, guidelines, reports and manuals. Results Community health workers in Mozambique were trained to identify the basic danger signs of pregnancy; however, they have not been trained to manage obstetric emergencies. Furthermore, barriers at health facilities were identified, including lack of equipment, shortage of supervisors, and irregular drug availability. All primary and the majority of secondary-level facilities (57%) do not provide blood transfusions or have surgical capacity, and thus such cases must be referred to the tertiary-level. Although most healthcare facilities (96%) had access to an ambulance for referrals, no transport was available from the community to the healthcare facility. Conclusions This study showed that task-sharing for screening and pre-referral management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia were deemed feasible and acceptable at the community-level, but an effort should be in place to address challenges at the health system level.

Evaluation of Community Health Workers’ Upskilling Training in Maternal and Newborn Care at Mount Hagen in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolly Kulimbua
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Maternal And Newborn Care ◽  
Maternal And Newborn

Background:   Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Western highlands Province were given a 6-month CHW upskilling training to enable them to provide essential maternal-newborn care, do timely referral of high risk clients and refer emergencies to hospital. Five trainings were conducted over the five year period. Forty seven (47) CHWs were upskilled over that five year period.   Aim:   To evaluate the effectiveness of the CHW Upskilling Training during 2012 – 2016.   Methods:    A post-training assessment was conducted by direct observations of the CHWs and the Officer in Charges (OICs) at their workplaces. Assessors observed the application of knowledge and skills and determined if there were improvements in the health facilities. Purposeful discussions were carried out to elicit qualitative feedback from CHWs OICs of the health facilities.   Findings:   The findings were impressive. The organisation of health facilities improved with specific schedules made for priority reproductive and maternal health services. The recording of maternal and newborn care services indicated great improvement. The ANC, family planning and labour ward registers indicated the kinds of services provided including management of life-threatening conditions. Records show reduced maternal and newborn deaths. Records also show reduced unnecessary referrals.   Conclusions:   The CHW Up skilling Training Program is an effective intervention to improve reproductive health and maternal-newborn services in remote areas of Papua New Guinea, particularly where there are no midwives, or higher category health care providers. It has contributed to improved maternal-newborn survival.   Recommendations:   The evaluation recommends that the CHW Upskilling Training should reach more CHWs to fill in gaps in health facilities where there are no midwives or doctor. In Papua New Guinea, the CHWs Upskilling program in maternal and newborn care is recommended for all CHWs.

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