Community health worker (CHW) programmes are currently being scaled-up in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to healthcare. CHWs are often volunteers; from an economic perspective, this raises considerations whether reliance on an unpaid workforce is sustainable and how to appropriately cost and value the work of CHWs. Both these questions can be informed by an understanding … [Read more...] about Valuing the work of unpaid community health workers and exploring the incentives to volunteering in rural Africa
Motivation/incentives
Engaging community health workers in maternal and newborn care in eastern Uganda
Community health workers (CHWs) have been employed in a number of low- and middle-income countries as part of primary health care strategies, but the packages vary across and even within countries. The experiences and motivations of a multipurpose CHW in providing maternal and newborn health have not been well described. This study examined the perceptions of community members … [Read more...] about Engaging community health workers in maternal and newborn care in eastern Uganda
How does context influence performance of community health workers in low- and middle-income countries? Evidence from the literature
Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized as an integral component of the health workforce needed to achieve public health goals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many factors intersect to influence CHW performance. However, research seldom focuses on the implications of context for CHW or programme performance. Understanding the socio-cultural, … [Read more...] about How does context influence performance of community health workers in low- and middle-income countries? Evidence from the literature
Initial experience and innovations in supervising community health workers for maternal, newborn child health in Morogoro region, Tanzania
Supervision is meant to improve the performance and motivation of community health workers (CHWs). However, most evidence on supervision relates to facility health workers. The Integrated Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Program in Morogoro region, Tanzania, implemented a CHW pilot with a cascade supervision model where facility health workers were trained in … [Read more...] about Initial experience and innovations in supervising community health workers for maternal, newborn child health in Morogoro region, Tanzania
Motivation and satisfaction among community health workers in Morogoro Region, Tanzania: nuanced needs and varied ambitions
In 2012, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), Tanzania, approved national guidelines and training materials for community health workers (CHWs) in integrated maternal, newborn and child health (Integrated MNCH), with CHWs trained and deployed across five districts of Morogoro Region soon after. To inform future scale up, this study assessed motivation and … [Read more...] about Motivation and satisfaction among community health workers in Morogoro Region, Tanzania: nuanced needs and varied ambitions
