Hypertension and diabetes are major challenges in low-income areas, where many people lack diagnosis or care. In Lesotho, a program showed that community health workers (CHWs) using a tablet-based tool can effectively screen for these conditions. Scaling up is challenging, as many CHWs lack pay, training, and support, and adding tasks can strain them. Careful integration, CHW … [Read more...] about Benefits and limitations of rigorous cost analyses in community health
Africa
Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
In rural Lesotho, community health workers (CHWs) used a tablet-based clinical decision support app to screen adults for hypertension and diabetes, reaching high coverage at moderate costs. Over 6 months, CHWs screened 88% of eligible adults for hypertension and 95% for diabetes. The cost per person screened was $41 in the project model and $17 in a routine implementation … [Read more...] about Costs and coverage of community health worker-led hypertension and diabetes screening in rural Lesotho (ComBaCaL): cost–consequence analysis of a cohort study
Involvement of community health workers in antimicrobial stewardship interventions and programmes: a scoping review
This review looked at how community health workers help promote responsible antibiotic use in several countries across Africa and Asia. The studies showed that CHWs support infection prevention, help identify common illnesses, give health education, and in some cases prescribe antibiotics correctly when allowed. Their work led to better awareness of antibiotic resistance and … [Read more...] about Involvement of community health workers in antimicrobial stewardship interventions and programmes: a scoping review
Effectiveness of Community-Based Culturally Tailored Cervical Cancer Awareness Interventions among Women and Decision-Making Men in Low-Resource Settings: A Pre-Post Design Evaluation
This study tested a culturally tailored program to raise awareness about cervical cancer among women and male household decision-makers in rural Uganda and Bangladesh. The program used mass media and community health worker outreach. After the intervention, both women and men showed a major increase in knowledge about cervical cancer risks and symptoms. Involving men and … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of Community-Based Culturally Tailored Cervical Cancer Awareness Interventions among Women and Decision-Making Men in Low-Resource Settings: A Pre-Post Design Evaluation
Evaluating Frontline Health Workers’ Responses to Patient Inquiries With and Without Large Language Model Support in Nigeria: An Observational Study
This study tested whether ChatGPT could help frontline health workers in Nigeria give better answers to patient questions. Thirty-six doctors, nurses, and community health workers responded to health questions with and without ChatGPT’s help. Clinicians and patients rated the answers. ChatGPT-assisted responses were more accurate, complete, and empathetic, and people found them … [Read more...] about Evaluating Frontline Health Workers’ Responses to Patient Inquiries With and Without Large Language Model Support in Nigeria: An Observational Study
