This study in rural Malawi tested a program called Ndingathe (“I Can”) to help community health workers, known as Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), improve access to contraception; especially self-injectable options. The program gave HSAs tools like bicycles, lunch allowances, and better planning materials, which helped them hold more and longer outreach clinics. Both HSAs … [Read more...] about Improving Contraception Outreach through Human-Centered Design: A Pilot Study of the Ndingathe (“I Can”) Intervention in Rural Malawi
Evaluation
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Hospitalized Children: An Implementation Assessment
This study in a Bronx hospital looked at how community health workers (CHWs) help families of hospitalized children with social needs like housing or food. Of the families screened, about one in three had unmet needs, and most who worked with CHWs were successfully connected to support services. Nearly all families reported their situations improved. The program proved … [Read more...] about Addressing Health-Related Social Needs in Hospitalized Children: An Implementation Assessment
Empowering Health Navigators and Communities
In Iowa, growing immigrant communities have highlighted health gaps, especially in rural and underserved areas. To address this, local residents were trained as community health navigators to offer health education and screenings in culturally appropriate ways. So far, over 35 navigators have reached more than 1,200 people in places like churches, mosques, and housing … [Read more...] about Empowering Health Navigators and Communities
Innovative models of integrated community mental health workforce development
This article looks at new ways to strengthen the mental health workforce and make care more accessible. It highlights how training community health workers to provide basic mental health support, using digital tools like telepsychiatry, and involving people with lived experience can improve care in places with few specialists. It also stresses the importance of teamwork between … [Read more...] about Innovative models of integrated community mental health workforce development
Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study
This study tested whether community health workers (CHWs) could help identify and support pregnant women with depression in rural areas. CHWs were trained to screen women, offer simple counseling, and refer serious cases to health facilities. They screened nearly 1,000 women, and about one in four showed signs of depression. Most accepted and completed the counseling sessions. … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Interventions for Identifying and Managing Antenatal Depression: A Cluster-Linked Implementation Study
