CHWs connect the communities in which they live and the health systems in which they are immersed. Marta Schaaf and her colleagues identified the three main roles of CHWs in bridging this gap: the service extender (bringing medical services to the people), the cultural broker (interpreting medical services for the people), and the social change agent (helping address contexts … [Read more...] about The community health worker as service extender, cultural broker and social change agent: A critical interpretive synthesis of roles, intent, an accountability
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
When financial incentives backfire: A community health worker experiment in Uganda
CHWs sometimes charge for health products like those used to treat child diarrhea, but limited research has examined whether or not a fee-for-service model improves CHW performance. Zachary Wagner and his team compared the performance of Uganda-based CHWs who charged for their services against those who did not. Those who charged for their services conducted fewer household … [Read more...] about When financial incentives backfire: A community health worker experiment in Uganda
How do decision-makers use evidence in community health policy and financing decisions? A qualitative study and conceptual framework in four African countries.
Decisions about whether and how to finance and support close-to-community community health programming are best driven by evidence about what “works,” but a recent study by Meghan Bruce Kumar and her team suggests that the evidence base is limited. The researchers took a look at financing decisions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawai, and Mozambique to model their decision making … [Read more...] about How do decision-makers use evidence in community health policy and financing decisions? A qualitative study and conceptual framework in four African countries.
The distinctive roles of urban community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of the literature
As low- and middle-income cities grow in size, community health workers increasingly require evidence-based guidance to understand how to deliver health services to the urban poor. Teralynn Ludwick and her team reviewed the literature to understand the role of CHWs in urban health systems. CHWs often took on similar roles to those found in rural contexts, with the exception … [Read more...] about The distinctive roles of urban community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of the literature
Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis
This paper presents the results of a rapid evidence synthesis (RES) on CHWs and their role in COVID-19 control and prevention. The authors note that, although more research on implementation is required, findings support the vital role of CHWs in the COVID-19 response. They stress the importance of role clarity, supportive supervision, and work satisfaction for CHWs. … [Read more...] about Community health workers for pandemic response: a rapid evidence synthesis
