In rural Tanzania, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have shifted their roles due to government pressure and strict policies discouraging home births. To avoid penalties while still supporting pregnant women, TBAs publicly claim they only escort women to health facilities, though they continue to provide various forms of care. This approach allows them to navigate restrictive … [Read more...] about “We Only Escort Women to the Health Facility”: Traditional birth attendants and the performance of indicator-driven care in rural Tanzania
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of community health workers’ nutrition intervention for stunting prevention in Burera District, Rwanda
Childhood stunting is a major health issue in Rwanda, and community health workers (CHWs) play a key role in preventing it. This study explored the challenges and support CHWs receive in delivering nutrition programs in Burera District. Barriers included lack of technology skills, financial struggles, and cultural beliefs, while strong government support, training, and … [Read more...] about Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of community health workers’ nutrition intervention for stunting prevention in Burera District, Rwanda
Training Community Health Workers to Support Families of Children With Disabilities: Lessons Learned and Practical Recommendations
This study describes a training program for community health workers in Lusaka, Zambia, to support families of children with disabilities. U.S. faculty partnered with a local organization to train supervisors, who then trained community volunteers. The training improved knowledge and skills, but attitudes toward children with disabilities showed little change. COVID-19 caused … [Read more...] about Training Community Health Workers to Support Families of Children With Disabilities: Lessons Learned and Practical Recommendations
Acceptability of a community health worker-led health literacy intervention on lifestyle modification among hypertensive and diabetes patients in the City of Harare, Zimbabwe
This study explored whether a community health worker-led program to promote healthy lifestyles was acceptable to patients with high blood pressure and diabetes in Harare, Zimbabwe. The program included home and clinic visits with education and support. Interviews and focus groups with patients, nurses, and health workers showed overall positive feedback. Participants believed … [Read more...] about Acceptability of a community health worker-led health literacy intervention on lifestyle modification among hypertensive and diabetes patients in the City of Harare, Zimbabwe
Internal Facilitation by Health Assistants for the “WHO Lay Health Worker Dementia Care” in Rural Uganda: A Formative Evaluation
This study explored how lay health workers, supported by health assistants, can improve dementia care in rural Uganda using the World Health Organization dementia toolkit. Interviews with healthcare workers showed strong support for this approach, citing existing community structures as an advantage. However, challenges like limited dementia knowledge and resources were noted. … [Read more...] about Internal Facilitation by Health Assistants for the “WHO Lay Health Worker Dementia Care” in Rural Uganda: A Formative Evaluation
