To improve access to contraceptives in remote and rural areas, sub-Saharan African countries are allowing community health workers (CHWs) to distribute hormonal contraceptives. Before offering hormonal contraceptives, CHWs must determine pregnancy status but often lack a reliable way to do so. This study design implemented a randomized experiment in Eastern Madagascar among … [Read more...] about Providing free pregnancy test kits to CHWs increases distribution of contraceptives: results from an impact evaluation in Madagascar
CHW Role
Promotores de Salud: A Presentation by the CDC
This presentation, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, illustrates the role and purpose of Promotores de Salud (loose translation of CHWs in Spanish) in the US health care system. It introduces the background and key advantages of Promotores in their local communities. Furthermore, it outlines examples of prevention campaigns and projects where CHWs and Promotores … [Read more...] about Promotores de Salud: A Presentation by the CDC
Community health workers in the wake of health care reform
As the United States transforms its health system, many policymakers are turning to community health workers to tackle some of the most challenging aspects of health improvement, such as facilitating care coordination, enhancing access to community-based services, mitigating the impacts of the social determinants of health, addressing health disparities, and … [Read more...] about Community health workers in the wake of health care reform
Community care workers boost TB case finding among hard-to-reach adults
According to two studies presented at the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health held in Cape Town last December, community care worker active case findings is an effective tool for increasing TB case detection in hard-to-reach populations. Early detection and treatment of people with active TB is crucial to decrease TB transmission, and community … [Read more...] about Community care workers boost TB case finding among hard-to-reach adults
Women’s attitudes toward receiving family planning services from community health workers in rural Western Kenya
In African countries including Kenya, contraceptive use, fertility rates and other reproductive health indicators in rural areas lag behind urban areas. Even though Kenya's fertility rate declined from 8.1 in 1978 to 4.6 in 2008, the figures are much higher in rural areas, 5.2 compared to an urban rate of 2.9. The persistent high fertility rate has been attributed to many … [Read more...] about Women’s attitudes toward receiving family planning services from community health workers in rural Western Kenya
