Africa

Assessing the impact of a community-based psychodrama intervention on mental health promotion of adolescents and young adults in Mozambique: A mixed-methods study

This study assessed the impact and acceptability of a community-based psychodrama intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in Beira, Mozambique, both with and without HIV. Over July and August 2023, trained community health workers conducted weekly sessions for AYAs aged 15–24. Of the 354 participants, 315 attended the sessions with a 94.4% participation rate. The … [Read more...] about Assessing the impact of a community-based psychodrama intervention on mental health promotion of adolescents and young adults in Mozambique: A mixed-methods study

The Proactive Community Case Management (ProCCM) trial in Mali aimed to strengthen the health system by removing user fees, employing professional community health workers (CHWs), and upgrading primary health centers (PHCs). Village-clusters were either assigned proactive home visits by CHWs (intervention) or fixed site-based services (control). Over three years, both groups … [Read more...] about Community case management to accelerate access to healthcare in Mali: A realist process evaluation nested within a cluster randomized trial

This study explores the role of community health workers (CHWs) in achieving universal health coverage, focusing on their integration and empowerment within the healthcare system. Conducted in rural South Africa, the research analyzed data from a project evaluating supportive supervision for CHWs. The study found that CHWs often operate on the fringes of the healthcare system, … [Read more...] about From the periphery to inclusion within the health system: promoting community health worker empowerment as a way forward

The TB Recovery Plan in South Africa was developed to address the impact of COVID-19 on TB care. This study interviewed 24 stakeholders, including health officials and community representatives, to assess its implementation. Participants noted that COVID-19 innovations could improve TB policy execution but identified bottlenecks at the provincial level. Recommendations included … [Read more...] about Strengthening accountability for tuberculosis policy implementation in South Africa perspectives from policymakers, civil society, and communities

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of team-based care interventions led by non-physician healthcare providers in improving blood pressure (BP) outcomes for adults with hypertension in Africa. Out of 3,375 records screened, 33 studies (16 randomized controlled trials and 17 pre-post studies) were included. The findings showed that team-based … [Read more...] about Effectiveness of team-based care interventions in improving blood pressure outcomes among adults with hypertension in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis