The way in which health facilities are built impacts the ability of CHWs to perform their roles as intended. Hasan Yusefzadeh and Bahram Nabilou evaluated characteristics of physical work environment factors in Urmia, Iran to understand their impacts on CHW performance. Technical and office equipment layout had the greatest impacts on CHW performance. … [Read more...] about Work environment factors and provider performance in health houses: a case study of a developing country
Asia
Planetary health and the role of community health workers
CHWs can play a significant role in mitigating the impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change, and global noncommunicable diseases on health by providing culturally-relevant education and behavioral interventions. Manas Behera and colleagues performed a review of the literature to understand how CHWs impact these factors on a global scale. The researchers identified four … [Read more...] about Planetary health and the role of community health workers
Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Commune health centers were inaugurated in 2015 in Vietnam to provide methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for people experiencing both HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). Diep Bich Nguyen evaluated challenges to provision of care experienced by CHWs working in commune health centers. Challenges often occurred as a result of stigmatization toward people with SUDs and a … [Read more...] about Methadone Maintenance Treatment Decentralization in Vietnam
Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Only one in five Nepali women seek care following gender-based violence (GBV). Myra Betron and colleagues evaluated whether female community health volunteers (fCHVs), with their trusted role in society, could improve care for these women. After attending a single day of training, fCHVs reported increased knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing care for GBV. One year … [Read more...] about Should female community health volunteers (FCHVs) facilitate a response to gender-based violence (GBV)? A mixed methods exploratory study in Mangalsen, Nepal
Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Impacts of health system physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated by assigning tasks that require limited specialized knowledge to non-physician healthcare workers, including CHWs. Joseph Maria and colleagues reviewed 46 research studies to understand how this so-called “task-sharing” is applied to manage type 2 diabetes in LMICs. … [Read more...] about Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
