scholarly journals Increasing the Relevance of Research to Underserved Communities: Lessons Learned from a Retreat to Engage Community Health Workers with Researchers

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 840-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Angier ◽  
Noelle Wiggins ◽  
Jessica Gregg ◽  
Rachel Gold ◽  
Jennifer DeVoe
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Underserved Communities

scholarly journals The use of low-cost ruggedized Android tablets to augment in-service training of community health workers in Mukono, Uganda: perspectives and lessons learned from the field

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1482-1490
Author(s):  
Christina E Stiles ◽  
Edward O’Neil Jr ◽  
Kenneth Kabali ◽  
James O’Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Refresher Training ◽  
Service Training

Background: Despite potential for community health workers (CHWs) to effectively reduce morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, they still face multiple barriers including access to on-going and refresher training. Digital technology offers a potential solution to improve the provision of ongoing training for CHWs. Objectives: This report shares participant insights and experiences following the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) assisted Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) refresher training programme for CHWs in Mukono, Uganda. We seek to document benefits and challenges of such an approach. Methods: CHWs were trained to recognize, treat and prevent childhood pneumonia via locally made videos preloaded onto low cost, ruggedized Android tablets. Subsequent interviews were compiled with key stakeholders including CHWs, CHW leaders and programme supervisors to better understand the strengths, barriers and lessons learned following the interven- tion. Results: Success factors included the establishment of CHW leadership structures, the ability to use the tablets to learn on an “any pace, any place” basis and using the tablets to conduct community teaching and outreach. Barriers included appro- priate consideration of the implementation timeline and avoiding a “one size fits all” approach to digital literacy training. Conclusions: The strength of the program stemmed from a grassroots approach that prioritized stakeholder input at all stages. Leadership at a local level, a history of local engagement and trust built up over a period time were also integral. As organizations aim to scale up digitally enhanced training initiatives, it is paramount that attention is paid to these human factors which are key for program success. Keywords: Low-cost ruggedized Android tablets; in-service training; community health workers; Mukono.

Advancing Community Health Workers Through Higher Education: Lessons Learned From a Basic Certificate Program Implementation

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 228-233
Author(s):  
Marlon Haywood ◽  
Andy Garman ◽  
Tricia Johnson ◽  
Beth-Anne M. Christopher ◽  
Roy Walker
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Malcolm X ◽  
Certificate Program ◽  
Affordable Healthcare Act

The Affordable Healthcare Act has, among other changes, created greater incentives to reduce health disparities in low-income communities across the country, which heightened the importance and expectations of community health workers (CHWs) as part of the clinical care team. These heightened expectations have begun to transition what has historically been a paraprofessional role into one that involves more clearly defined competencies and development needs. In an effort to meet these needs in the city of Chicago, a CHW basic certificate program was developed and launched at Malcolm X college (one of the seven city Colleges of Chicago), in collaboration with several community partners. This article presents the experience of this program, the challenges faced in its implementation, and lessons from this experience that may be relevant to others involved in the professional preparation of CHWs.

scholarly journals The role of community health workers in improving HIV treatment outcomes in children: lessons learned from the ZENITH trial in Zimbabwe

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Busza ◽  
Ethel Dauya ◽  
Tsitsi Bandason ◽  
Victoria Simms ◽  
Chido Dziva Chikwari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Hiv Treatment Outcomes

Community Health Workers and Disasters: Lessons Learned from the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 604-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Fredricks ◽  
Hao Dinh ◽  
Manita Kusi ◽  
Chandra Yogal ◽  
Biraj M. Karmacharya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Major Disaster ◽  
Key Informant

AbstractIntroductionThe Nepal earthquake of 2015 was a major disaster that exacted an enormous toll on human lives and caused extensive damage to the infrastructure of the region. Similar to other developing countries, Nepal has a network of community health workers (CHWs; known as female community health volunteers [FCHVs]) that was in place prior to the earthquake and continues to function to improve maternal and child health. These FCHVs and other community members were responsible, by default, for providing the first wave of assistance after the earthquake.Hypothesis/ProblemCommunity health workers such as FCHVs could be used to provide formal relief services in the event of an emergency, but there is a paucity of evidence-based literature on how to best utilize them in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response. Data are needed to further characterize the roles that this cadre has played in past disasters and what strategies can be implemented to better incorporate them into future emergency management.MethodsIn March 2016, key-informant interviews, FCHV interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Nepali health facilities using semi-structured guides. The audio-recorded data were obtained with the assistance of a translator (Nepali-English), transcribed verbatim in English, and coded by two independent researchers (manually and with NVivo 11 Pro software [QSR International; Melbourne, Australia]).ResultsAcross seven different regions, 14 interviews with FCHVs, two FGDs with community women, and three key-informant interviews were conducted. Four major themes emerged around the topic of FCHVs and the 2015 earthquake: (1) community care and rapport between FCHVs and local residents; (2) emergency response of FCHVs in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake; (3) training requested to improve the FCHVs’ ability to manage disasters; and (4) interaction with relief organizations and how to create collaborations that provide aid relief more effectively.ConclusionsThe FCHVs in Nepal provided multiple services to their communities in the aftermath of the earthquake, largely without any specific training or instruction. Proper preparation, in addition to improved collaboration with aid agencies, could increase the capacity of FCHVs to respond in the event of a future disaster. The information gained from this study of the FCHV experience in the Nepal earthquake could be used to inform risk reduction and emergency management policies for CHWs in various settings worldwide.FredricksK, DinhH, KusiM, YogalC, KarmacharyaBM, BurkeTF, NelsonBD. Community health workers and disasters: lessons learned from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):604–609.

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