Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Moving Towards a South African NHI System of Excellence: Recommendations Based on the Insider Perspectives of CHWs as Key Role-Players

South Africa’s government is improving primary health care through a new plan supported by National Health Insurance (NHI), with Community Health Workers (CHWs) playing a key role. This article shares the views of 31 CHWs from an NHI pilot district and gives suggestions to improve the program. These include having clear team leaders, providing regular training, keeping records … [Read more...] about Moving Towards a South African NHI System of Excellence: Recommendations Based on the Insider Perspectives of CHWs as Key Role-Players

This study looked at what affects how quickly children under five in Uganda receive malaria treatment. Using data from over 4,000 children, it found that 41% of them got treatment later than the recommended 24 hours after symptoms started. Children received treatment faster when both parents made health decisions together, when care was sought from community health workers … [Read more...] about Timeliness of malaria treatment in children under five years in Uganda: an analysis of 2016 demographic health survey data

This study looked at how home visits by health extension workers in rural Ethiopia could help people with high blood pressure get the care they need. The workers gave health education, counseling, and referrals during regular visits. After nine months, the number of people connected to care rose from 11% to 66% in the group that got the home visits, compared to 12% to 40% in … [Read more...] about Health extension workers led home-based multicomponent intervention improves linkage to hypertension care in northwest Ethiopia cluster-randomized controlled trial

In rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, most people with high blood pressure are not getting it under control. To help fix this, researchers looked at how care is currently provided in clinics and what might help or get in the way of a new community-based program (IMPACT-BP). They talked with clinic staff, community health workers (CHWs), community leaders, and patients. … [Read more...] about A formative evaluation of potential barriers and facilitators to inform effective implementation of a community-based hypertension care program in rural South Africa: The IMPACT-BP trial

This study looked at whether trained community volunteers (called Community Lay Cadres or CLCs) in Zimbabwe can collect HIV viral load blood samples as well as healthcare workers (HCWs). Blood samples were taken from 374 people—one by a HCW and one by a CLC. The results matched 96% of the time. Most CLCs collected the samples correctly, and both the CLCs and clients felt … [Read more...] about Feasibility and acceptability of task sharing collection of HIV viral load dried blood spot samples with community lay cadres in Zimbabwe