scholarly journals Enabling and hindering factors of health surveillance assistants’ roles in the provision of contraceptive services in Mangochi, Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryse Kok ◽  
Madalitso Tolani ◽  
Wongani Mtonga ◽  
Thom Salamba ◽  
Twambilire Mwabungulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Contraceptive Services ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants

scholarly journals "Prevalence of role stressors and associated factors among health surveillance assistants in Malawi? A cross-sectional study"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ntopi ◽  
Ellen Chirwa ◽  
Alfred Maluwa
Keyword(s):  
Role Conflict ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Role Ambiguity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Role Overload ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Role Stressors ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants

Abstract Background: Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) are community-based health workers in Malawi, responsible for health services delivery at the community level. The prevalence of high role stressors among health surveillance assistants (HSAs) is a very important issue to strengthen the delivery of the essential health package at the community level; however, data on the prevalence of these role stressors to help understand more about the role stressors among HSAs is unavailable. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of role stressors and its associated factors among HSAs. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used in this study to collect data from January 2017 to December 2017. Data were collected from 430 HSAs from the districts of Mangochi, Lilongwe and Mzimba using a self-administered structured questionnaire was hand delivered to a total of 455 HSAs (response rate of 94.5%). Role ambiguity and role conflict was measured using a 13-item Rizzo et al. role conflict and ambiguity (RCA) scale; role overload was measured using a 9-item Reilly role overload scale and the job tasks for HSAs were measured using Burgal et al. modified version of the task inventory scale. Factors for role stressors were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression model. Results: Of the respondents 3% had high risk for RA, 51.20% RC and 49% RO. Role stressors are prevalent among HSAs in Malawi. HSAs who were resident in rural areas, female, and performing additional clinical roles experienced significant levels of role stressors. Interestingly, no statistically significant associations were found between role stressors and the years at service post, age and the district of work. Conclusion: This is the first study of occupational role stressors in Malawi. Role stressors are prevalent among HSAs. Interventions aimed at improving supervision, training and task regulation by an independent regulatory body may support to reduce role stressors among HSAs. Keywords : health surveillance assistants, role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload, role stressors

scholarly journals Health Surveillance Assistants’ Practices of Postnatal Care in Lilongwe District, Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Pindani ◽  
Chrissie Phiri ◽  
Idesi Chilinda ◽  
Wanangwa Chikazinga ◽  
Janet Botha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postnatal Care ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Neonatal Care ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Limited Capacity ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Danger Signs ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants ◽  
Almost All

Health surveillance assistants (HSAs) participate in the provision of postnatal care in Malawi, although their knowledge and skills in maternal and reproductive health are limited. This article presents the findings of a mixed-methods study that was conducted in three selected health centres to document the practices of HSAs in the provision of postnatal care to mothers and babies in Lilongwe district in Malawi. A random sample of 97 HSAs participated in the quantitative part of this study and 30 of these participated in the qualitative aspect of the study. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. This study found that many respondents (>60%) had limited capacity to provide adequate postnatal care and 85.3% of them never checked the vital signs of mothers and babies. They also lacked knowledge and skills in some aspects of postnatal care including danger signs. Almost all the respondents (96.8%) had never received any training in Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC), or Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC). Considering that HSAs have limited capacity to provide postnatal care to mothers and their babies, shifting tasks of nurses or midwives to HSAs should not be considered as an “outright solution” for increasing access to postnatal care in low-resource settings because it may compromise the quality of care.

Preferences for food and nutritional supplements among adult people living with HIV in Malawi

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Rodas-Moya ◽  
Stephen Kodish ◽  
Mark Manary ◽  
Nils Grede ◽  
Saskia de Pee
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Nutritional Supplements ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Organoleptic Characteristics ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Depth Interviews

AbstractObjectiveTo elucidate the factors influencing food intake and preferences for potential nutritional supplements to treat mild and moderate malnutrition among adult people living with HIV (PLHIV).DesignQualitative research using in-depth interviews with a triangulation of participants and an iterative approach to data collection.SettingThe study was conducted in a health clinic of rural Chilomoni, a southern town of Blantyre district, Malawi.SubjectsMale and female participants, aged 18–49 years (n 24), affected by HIV; health surveillance assistants of Chilomoni clinic (n 8).ResultsSix themes emerged from the in-depth interviews: (i) PLHIV perceived having a poor-quality diet; (ii) health challenges determine the preferences of PLHIV for food; (iii) liquid–thick, soft textures and subtle natural colours and flavours are preferred; (iv) preferred organoleptic characteristics of nutritional supplements resemble those of local foods; (v) food insecurity may contribute to intra-household sharing of nutritional supplements; and (vi) health surveillance assistants and family members influence PLHIV’s dietary behaviours. No differences by sex were found. The emergent themes were corroborated by health surveillance assistants through participant triangulation.ConclusionsIn this setting, a thickened liquid supplement, slightly sweet and sour, may be well accepted. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection should follow to further develop the nutritional supplement and to fine tune the organoleptic characteristics of the product to the taste and requirements of PLHIV. Results of the present study provide a first approach to elucidate the factors influencing food intake and preferences for potential nutritional supplements among adult PLHIV.

scholarly journals Motivation of health surveillance assistants in Malawi: A qualitative study

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley R. Chikaphupha ◽  
Maryse C. Kok ◽  
Lot Nyirenda ◽  
Ireen Namakhoma ◽  
Sally Theobald
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants

scholarly journals ‘Task shifting’ in an antiretroviral clinic in Malawi: can health surveillance assistants manage patients safely? [Short communication]

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 178-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Tweya ◽  
C. Feldacker ◽  
A. Ben-Smith ◽  
R. Weigel ◽  
M. Boxshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Communication ◽  
Task Shifting ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants

scholarly journals Relationship between role stressors, job tasks and job satisfaction among health surveillance assistants in Malawi: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037000
Author(s):  
Simon Ntopi ◽  
Ellen Chirwa ◽  
Alfred Maluwa
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Role Stressors ◽  
Job Tasks ◽  
Health Surveillance Assistants ◽  
The Government

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to investigate the role stressors, sociodemographic characteristics and job tasks of health surveillance assistants (HSAs) and to explore major predictors of role stressors and job satisfaction of HSAs in Malawi.SettingData were collected from health centres and hospitals of three Malawi districts of Mangochi, Lilongwe and Mzimba.ParticipantsRespondents were 430 HSAs. 50.20% of them were male, while 49.8% were female.DesignA cross-sectional study of the observational correlational design was carried out.Main outcome measuresRespondents perceptions of job tasks, role stressors and job satisfaction.ResultsThe key findings of this study were role ambiguity and role overload were significantly negatively related to job satisfaction, while role conflict was insignificantly related to job satisfaction. Additionally, the clinical tasks of the HSAs and some of the sociodemographic variables were associated with the role stressors and job satisfaction of the HSAs in Malawi.ConclusionsSince the HSAs clinical tasks were significantly related to all role stressors, there is need by the government of Malawi to design strategies to control the role stressors to ensure increased job performance and job satisfaction among HSAs. Furthermore, studies may be required in the future to assist government to control role stressors among HSAs in Malawi.

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