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Shrestha P, Afsana K, Weerasinghe MC, Perry HB, Joshi H, Rana N, Memon ZA, Khaled N, Malhotra S, Bhardwaj S, Kafle S, Inagaki Y, Schimdt A, Hodgins S, Neupane D, Rao KD. Strengthening primary health care through community health workers in South Asia. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024; 28:100463. [PMID: 39301268 PMCID: PMC11410731 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
The growing health challenges in South Asia require further adaptations of community health worker (CHW) programs as a key element of primary health care (PHC). This paper provides a comparative analysis of CHW programs in five countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), examines successes and challenges, and suggests reforms to better ensure highly performing CHW programs. To examine CHW programs in the region, we conducted a narrative review of the peer-reviewed and grey literatures, as well as eliciting opinions from experts. Common roles of CHWs include health education, community mobilization, and community-based services, particularly related to reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health. Some countries utilize CHWs for non-communicable diseases and other emerging health issues. To maximize the potential contribution of CHWs to achieving Universal Health Coverage, we recommend future research and policy focus on strengthening existing health systems to support the expansion of CHWs roles and better integrating of CHWs into national PHC systems. This is Paper 4 in the Series on Primary Health Care in South Asia, addressing areas that have the potential to revitalize health systems in South Asian countries. Funding The authors received financial support from the Department of Health Systems Development, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEAR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Shrestha
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Kaosar Afsana
- BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Henry B Perry
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Harsha Joshi
- India Primary Healthcare Support Initiative, Johns Hopkins India Private Ltd., Delhi, India
| | - Nisha Rana
- Nepal Development Society, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Zahid Ali Memon
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nazrana Khaled
- BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sumit Malhotra
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Simrin Kafle
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Yoko Inagaki
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Austin Schimdt
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Stephen Hodgins
- College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Dinesh Neupane
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Krishna D Rao
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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Tiruneh MG, Fenta ET, Endeshaw D, Delie AM, Adal O, Tareke AA, Bogale EK, Anagaw TF. Health extension service utilization in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:537. [PMID: 38671447 PMCID: PMC11046976 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11038-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ethiopia strives to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Primary Health Care (PHC) by expanding access to services and improving the quality and equitable comprehensive health services at all levels. The Health Extension Program (HEP) is an innovative strategy to deliver primary healthcare services in Ethiopia and is designed to provide basic healthcare to approximately 5000 people through a health post (HP) at the grassroots level. Thus, this review aimed to assess the magnitude of health extension service utilization in Ethiopia. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist guideline was used for this review and meta-analysis. The electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and African Journals Online) and search engines (Google Scholar and Grey literature) were searched to retrieve articles by using keywords. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta-analysis of statistics assessment and review instrument was used to assess the quality of the studies. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The meta-analysis with a 95% confidence interval using STATA 17 software was computed to present the pooled utilization of health extension services. Publication bias was assessed by visually inspecting the funnel plot and statistical tests using Egger's and Begg's tests. RESULT 22 studies were included in the systematic review with a total of 28,171 participants, and 8 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled magnitude of health extension service utilization was 58.5% (95% CI: 40.53, 76.48%). In the sub-group analysis, the highest pooled proportion of health extension service utilization was 60.42% (28.07, 92.77%) in the mixed study design, and in studies published after 2018, 59.38% (36.42, 82.33%). All studies were found to be within the confidence interval of the pooled proportion of health extension service utilization in leave-out sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS The utilization of health extension services was found to be low compared to the national recommendation. Therefore, policymakers and health planners should come up with a wide variety of health extension service utilization strategies to achieve universal health coverage through the primary health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misganaw Guadie Tiruneh
- Department of Health Systems and Policy, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Eneyew Talie Fenta
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Destaw Endeshaw
- Department of Adult Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Mebrat Delie
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Ousman Adal
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Abiyu Abadi Tareke
- Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, SLL project COVID-19/EPI technical assistant at West Gondar Zonal Health Department, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Eyob Ketema Bogale
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, PO. Box.079, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Fentabel Anagaw
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, PO. Box.079, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Role of Community Health Volunteers Since the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes: A Qualitative Study. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 17:e138. [PMID: 35287784 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2022.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nepal female community health volunteers (FCHVs) were the first available health personnel in communities during the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. This study explored the facilitating factors and barriers of the FCHVs during health emergencies. METHODS In-depth interviews with 24 FCHVs and 4 health managers from 2 districts in Nepal (Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk) were conducted using semi-structured interview guides. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. RESULTS FCHVs were the first responders to provide services after the earthquakes and were well accepted by the local communities. Different models of supervision existed, and differences in the workload and remuneration offered to FCHVs were described. A wide range of disaster-related knowledge and skills were required by FCHVs, and lack of prior training was an issue for some respondents. Furthermore, lack of access to adequate medical supplies was a major barrier for FCHVs in the 2015 earthquakes. The 5 identified themes were discussed. CONCLUSION Providing regular disaster response training for FCHVs and strong leadership from the public sector with sustained investments will be essential for increasing the capacities of community health workforces to prepare for and reduce the impacts of future health emergencies in resource-poor settings.
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