Scale-up Zinc Sulphate Use for Management of Childhood Diarrheal Diseases in Zambia Through Community Health Workers and Women’s Support Groups

Author(s):  
Idi Mwinyi
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ashok Dyalchand ◽  
Rohini Prabha Pande ◽  
Gopal Kulkarni ◽  
Manisha Khale

Abstract This study examined the effect of the Safe Adolescent Transition and Health Initiative (SATHI) programme on the use of maternal care services among rural, pregnant adolescents in India. This was an intensive community-based, multi-site intervention project conducted in Maharashtra state between 2008 and 2011. Its aims were to improve the reproductive health of married adolescent girls and avert the adverse consequences of early motherhood. It had a quasi-experimental, case-control, pre-post design to enable rigorous evaluation. This study used cross-sectional data from 644 married girls aged under 19 years at baseline and 802 at endline to assess the maternal care outcomes of antenatal care, delivery and postnatal services and nutrition during pregnancy. Difference-in-differences analysis showed that all outcomes improved significantly in the study sites between baseline and endline, and the improvement in study sites was significantly larger than in the control sites. Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant dose–response effect of intervention participation for antenatal care, pregnancy nutrition and postnatal care. Study participation was not statistically significantly associated with higher rates of safe or institutional delivery. The analysis suggests that training and supporting community health workers to work with married adolescent girls using interpersonal communication and interacting frequently with them and their families and communities can significantly improve the use of maternal care services among this population. With almost a million community health workers and 200,000 auxiliary nurse midwives at the community level providing primary level care in India, this intervention offers a proven strategy to replicate and scale-up to reach large numbers of married adolescent girls who do not currently use maternal care services.


Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nittaya Phanuphak ◽  
Thanthip Sungsing ◽  
Jureeporn Jantarapakde ◽  
Supabhorn Pengnonyang ◽  
Deondara Trachunthong ◽  
...  

Background No data are available on the feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivered by trained key population (KP) community health workers. Herein we report data from the KP-led Princess PrEP program serving men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Thailand. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, trained MSM and TGW community health workers delivered same-day PrEP service in community health centres, allowing clients to receive one PrEP bottle to start on the day of HIV-negative testing. Visits were scheduled at Months 1 and 3, and every 3 months thereafter. Uptake, retention and adherence to PrEP services and changes in risk behaviours over time are reported. Results: Of 1467 MSM and 230 TGW who started PrEP, 44.1% had had condomless sex in the past 3 months. At Months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, retention was 74.2%, 64.0%, 56.2%, 46.7% and 43.9% respectively (lower in TGW than MSM at all visits; P<0.001), with adherence to at least four PrEP pills per week self-reported by 97.4%, 96.8%, 96.5%, 97.5% and 99.5% of respondents respectively (no difference between MSM and TGW). Logistic regression analysis identified age >25 years, being MSM and having at least a Bachelors degree significantly increased retention. Condomless sex did not change over the 12-month period (from 47.2% to 45.2%; P=0.20). New syphilis was diagnosed in 4.9% and 3.0% of PrEP clients at Months 6 and 12 (cf. 7.0% at baseline; P=0.007). Among PrEP adherers and non-adherers, there were one and six HIV cases of seroconversion respectively, which resulted in corresponding HIV incidence rates (95% confidence interval) of 0.27 (0.04–1.90) and 1.36 (0.61–3.02) per 100 person-years. Conclusion: Our KP-led PrEP program successfully delivered PrEP to MSM and TGW. Innovative retention supports are needed, especially for TGW and those who are young or with lower education levels. To scale-up and sustain KP-led PrEP programs, strong endorsement from international and national guidelines is necessary.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1482-1490
Author(s):  
Christina E Stiles ◽  
Edward O’Neil Jr ◽  
Kenneth Kabali ◽  
James O’Donovan

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
Chunqing Lin ◽  
Li-Jung Liang ◽  
Diep Bich Nguyen ◽  
Loc Quang Pham ◽  
...  

AbstractScientific findings and policy guidelines recommend integrating HIV and drug addiction prevention and care into community-based settings. Systematic capacity-building efforts are warranted to provide technical support for community health workers and improve their confidence in the integrated service provision. An intervention trial was conducted between 2018 and 2019 with 120 community health workers (CHW) from 60 communes in Vietnam’s four provinces. The 60 intervention CHW received in-person training to enhance their HIV/addiction-related service knowledge and skills. Online support groups were established between trained CHW and local HIV and addiction specialists. The intervention outcomes were assessed using mixed-effects regression models with the data collected at baseline and every 3 months for 1 year. Adjusted analyses showed that intervention CHW reported a significant increase in the interaction with other treatment providers than the control group at 6 months and remained at the 12-month follow-up. The difference in the improvement of confidence in HIV/addiction-related service delivery between the intervention and control groups was significant at 6-month but became insignificant at the 12-month. Male CHW were more confident in providing services than female CHW at baseline, and gender differences in the changing patterns were observed over time. This capacity-building intervention demonstrated promising outcomes on CHW inter-agency collaborations and confidence in service delivery. Gender divides in healthcare professionals should be attended to in future studies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 02 (03) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Rigodon ◽  
Keith Joseph ◽  
Salmaan Keshavjee ◽  
Corrado Cancedda ◽  
Mona Haidar ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Alaneir de Fátima dos Santos ◽  
Hugo André da Rocha ◽  
Ângela Maria de Lourdes Dayrell de Lima ◽  
Daisy Maria Xavier de Abreu ◽  
Érica Araújo Silva ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To associate the strength of community health workers interventions with primary health care strategies for women’s and children’s health, diabetes, and hypertension. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study assessing 29,778 family health teams working in primary health care in Brazil in 2014. The association between community health workers activity levels and primary health care facilities was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We found higher levels of community health workers activities strongly associated with primary health care practices (OR = 6.88) for those activities targeting hypertension management, followed by children’s health (OR = 6.56), and women’s health (OR = 6.21). CONCLUSIONS: At a time when Brazil discusses whether community health workers should or should not remain in the same scale-up and skill level as they currently are, our results reinforce the importance of these workers for the care model advocated by the Brazilian Unified Health System.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiwoneso B. Tinago ◽  
Edward A. Frongillo ◽  
Andrea M. Warren ◽  
Vivian Chitiyo ◽  
Ashley K. Cifarelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Adolescent mothers in Zimbabwe often experience stigma, isolation, and lack coping skills and resources to successfully navigate motherhood. Social isolation and stigma are linked to poor mental health outcomes. No interventions currently address mental health of adolescent mothers in Zimbabwe. Peer support groups in other contexts have been effective at increasing social connectedness, self-esteem, and self-efficacy, providing coping mechanisms to manage stigma experiences, in addition to empowering and improving mental health of adolescents and adolescent mothers. To develop a community-based peer support intervention, we aimed to understand the unique needs of adolescent mothers, how peer support groups could address those needs, and the feasibility of implementing the intervention. Methods Focus group discussions were conducted with 86 adolescent mothers aged 14–18 years, 24 community health workers, and 25 key community stakeholders in a low-income high-density community in Harare. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. Results Participants described adolescent mother experiences with stigma and social isolation, in addition to challenges including gossip, lack of employment and educational opportunities, and gaps in services and programming. Peer support groups for adolescent mothers were welcomed to improve mental health, social support, knowledge sharing, and skills building. Participants identified varying preferred frequency and duration of group sessions addressing topics including income generation, mental health, and gossip, facilitated by community health workers at health and community centers. The use of WhatsApp Messenger to support intervention efforts was welcomed as an affordable and user-friendly platform to share information. Implementation (i.e., training, supervision, frequency, location, and co-facilitation) was feasible. Conclusions Adolescent mothers, community health workers and key community stakeholders welcomed the peer support groups as a feasible way to address the mothers’ needs.


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