Assessment of community health aides

A research project funded by the Commonwealth Caribbean Medical Research Council (CCMRC) began in February 1987, to study aspects of the situation in connection with 508 Community Health Aides (CHAs) employed in Government Service of Jamaica. There were in the service 1,328 CHAs in 1978, reducedto 1,183 in 1982 and to 1,168 in 1984. By 1985/86 the numbers were further reduced,reaching the low figure of 508. This report deals specifically with the responses of 615 members of the community who were interviewed, and questionaires were returned from all parishes in the four Administrative Health areas in Jamaica. The responses from community members are very important in the assessment ofcommunity health aides as members of the community health team. A number of useful and practical suggestions were reflected in their responses regarding service from community health aides

Survey of community health aides in Jamaica (1987-1988)

The Community Health Aide (CHA) was initiated in 1967, and, by the early 1980s, 1,328 CHAs had been trained and over 1,100 remained in the service. The aim of the programme was to train CHAs to assist in the deliveryof basic health care. During the restructuring of the health services in 1985-1986, many CHAs were made redundant. As part of a large study aimed at assessing the current status of the CHA programme, this paper reports results of interviews with 415 CHAs still in service in 1987-1988 and 134 CHAs no longer employed in the programme at that time. The survey of CHAs still employed as such showed that they continued to perform duties in the community and health centres with emphasis on the maternal and child health services and the management of the diabetics and hypertensives. The survey of CHAs no longer as such showed that the majority remained unemployed though many continued to use their skills on a voluntary basis. These CHAs felt that home visiting had been reduced and environmental health was being neglected since they left, and that problems were not being regularly reported to the professionals at the health centres. It was recommended that all CHAs be offered training in the taking of blood pressure levels and in the giving of insulin injections to diabetics. Recommendations included improved methods of selection, longer training, greater community outreach, esprecially to the elderly, post-training evaluation, regular assessment of the CHAs' performance, and improved upward mobility opportunities and job security

The use of Community Health Aides as perceived by their supervisors in Jamaica, West Indies 1987/88

A research project funded by the Commowealth Caribbean Medical Research Council (CCMRC) began in February 1987, to study aspects of the situation in connection with the 508 Community health Aides employed in the Government Service of Jamaica. This report deals specifically with the role of Supervisors (Public health Nurses and Midwives) in relation to Community Health Aides (CHAs) employed in the Government Primary Health Care Service, Jamaica. There were 77 Supervisors interviewd, and questionaires were returned from all four Administrative health areas in Jamaica. The Supervisors reported that they could supervise more CHAs in the community setting than in the clinic setting alone. In-service training was an integral part of the CHA programme, and there was regular evaluation of the CHAs, with at least an annual evaluation in keeping with the policy of the agency. Resource from other sectors assist in continuing education programmes for the CHAs. The study outlines the main weaknesses and the strengthes of the community health aide programme, and highlights the fact that the CHA is a valuable member of the health team and does contribute significvantly to Primary Health Care