Post-intervention perceptions on the antiretroviral therapy community group model in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya.

Introduction: the increasing number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa has stressed already overburdened health systems. A care model utilizing community-based peer-groups (ART Co-ops) facilitated by community health workers (CHW) was implemented (2016-2018) to address these challenges. In 2018, a post-intervention study assessed perceptions of the intervention. Methods: forty participants were engaged in focus group discussions consisting of ART Co-op clients, study staff, and health care providers from Kitale HIV clinic. Data were analyzed thematically for content on the intervention, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. Results: all participants liked the intervention. However, some reported traveling long distances to attend ART Co-op meetings and experiencing stigma with ART Co-ops participation. The ART Co-op inclusion criteria were considered appropriate; however, additional outreach to deliberately include spouses living with HIV, the disabled, the poor, and HIV pregnant women was recommended. Participants liked CHW-directed quarterly group meetings which included ART distribution, adherence review, and illness identification. The inability of the CHW to provide full clinical care, inconvenient meeting venues, poor timekeeping, and non-attendance behaviors were noted as issues. Participants indicated that program continuation, regular CHW training, rotating meetings at group members´ homes, training ART Co-ops leaders to assume CHW tasks, use of pill diaries to check adherence, nutritional support, and economically empowering members through income generation projects would be beneficial. Conclusion: the intervention was viewed positively by both clinic staff and clients. They identified specific challenges and generated actionable key considerations to improve access and acceptability of the community-based model of care.

Community health workers' dissemination of COVID-19 information and services in the early pandemic response: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Community health workers (CHWs) had important roles mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in vulnerable communities. We described how CHWs supported the dissemination of COVID-19 information and services during the early pandemic response. METHODS: Online article searches were conducted across five scientific databases, with review article reference lists hand searched to identify grey/unpublished literature. Articles were included if they reported on a program that engaged CHWs and aimed to prevent/control COVID-19. RESULTS: Nineteen relevant programs were identified from 18 included articles. CHWs were widely engaged in the pandemic response, especially in low- and middle-income countries and in vulnerable communities. CHWs' ability to effectively disseminate COVID-19 information/services was enabled by community trust and understanding community needs. CHWs were often underfunded and required to work in difficult conditions. Pre-existing services incorporating CHWs rapidly adapted to the new challenges brought by the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend establishing programs that employ CHWs to disseminate health information and services in communities at-risk of misinformation and poor health outcomes during non-pandemic times. CHWs are well-placed to deliver interventions should an infectious disease outbreak arise. Having pre-existing trusted relationships between CHWs and community members may help protect vulnerable groups, including when outbreaks occur.

Enhancing cervical cancer knowledge among women of reproductive age: a dialogue-based community health education intervention in rural Kisumu County, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women of reproductive age despite being treatable if it is diagnosed early. Early diagnosis is possible through regular screening through the public health system. However, screening rates remain low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, where the screening rate currently stands at 16-18%. The low screening rates are attributed to, among other factors, low knowledge about cervical cancer and the available screening options among women of reproductive age. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of dialogue-based community health education by trained community health volunteers (CHVs) in improving cervical cancer knowledge among women of reproductive age (WRA) in rural Kisumu County. METHODS: This was a longitudinal pre- and post-intervention study with a control group. The knowledge of women of reproductive age was assessed at baseline in both the intervention and control groups, followed by dialogue-based community health education in the intervention arm. A final end-line knowledge assessment was performed. The scores at baseline and at the end of the study were compared to assess changes in knowledge due to the intervention. The proportion of WRA with improved knowledge was also calculated, and statistical significance was considered at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the participants in the two arms, except for the level of education (p = 0.002). The knowledge of the WRA in the intervention arm improved significantly (p < 0.001) following the dialogue-based educational intervention by the trained CHVs. None of the demographic characteristics were associated with knowledge. CONCLUSION: Dialogue-based educational intervention significantly improved the knowledge of the WRA in the intervention arm, showing its potential to address the knowledge gap in the community.

Community-based management of arterial hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors by lay village health workers for people with controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure in rural Lesotho: joint protocol for two cluster-randomized trials within the ComBaCaL cohort study (ComBaCaL aHT Twic 1 and ComBaCaL aHT TwiC 2).

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension (aHT) is a major cause for premature morbidity and mortality. Control rates remain poor, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Task-shifting to lay village health workers (VHWs) and the use of digital clinical decision support systems may help to overcome the current aHT care cascade gaps. However, evidence on the effectiveness of comprehensive VHW-led aHT care models, in which VHWs provide antihypertensive drug treatment and manage cardiovascular risk factors is scarce. METHODS: Using the trials within the cohort (TwiCs) design, we are assessing the effectiveness of VHW-led aHT and cardiovascular risk management in two 1:1 cluster-randomized trials nested within the Community-Based chronic disease Care Lesotho (ComBaCaL) cohort study (NCT05596773). The ComBaCaL cohort study is maintained by trained VHWs and includes the consenting inhabitants of 103 randomly selected villages in rural Lesotho. After community-based aHT screening, adult, non-pregnant ComBaCaL cohort participants with uncontrolled aHT (blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg) are enrolled in the aHT TwiC 1 and those with controlled aHT (BP < 140/90 mmHg) in the aHT TwiC 2. In intervention villages, VHWs offer lifestyle counseling, basic guideline-directed antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet treatment supported by a tablet-based decision support application to eligible participants. In control villages, participants are referred to a health facility for therapeutic management. The primary endpoint for both TwiCs is the proportion of participants with controlled BP levels (< 140/90 mmHg) 12 months after enrolment. We hypothesize that the intervention is superior regarding BP control rates in participants with uncontrolled BP (aHT TwiC 1) and non-inferior in participants with controlled BP at baseline (aHT TwiC 2). DISCUSSION: The TwiCs were launched on September 08, 2023. On May 20, 2024, 697 and 750 participants were enrolled in TwiC 1 and TwiC 2. To our knowledge, these TwiCs are the first trials to assess task-shifting of aHT care to VHWs at the community level, including the prescription of basic antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet medication in Africa. The ComBaCaL cohort and nested TwiCs are operating within the routine VHW program and countries with similar community health worker programs may benefit from the findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05684055. Registered on January 04, 2023.

Expanding community case management of malaria to all ages can improve universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment: results from a cluster randomized trial in Madagascar.

BACKGROUND: Global progress on malaria control has stalled recently, partly due to challenges in universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Community health workers (CHWs) can play a key role in improving access to malaria care for children under 5 years (CU5), but national policies rarely permit them to treat older individuals. We conducted a two-arm cluster randomized trial in rural Madagascar to assess the impact of expanding malaria community case management (mCCM) to all ages on health care access and use. METHODS: Thirty health centers and their associated CHWs in Farafangana District were randomized 1:1 to mCCM for all ages (intervention) or mCCM for CU5 only (control). Both arms were supported with CHW trainings on malaria case management, community sensitization on free malaria care, monthly supervision of CHWs, and reinforcement of the malaria supply chain. Cross-sectional household surveys in approximately 1600 households were conducted at baseline (Nov-Dec 2019) and endline (Nov-Dec 2021). Monthly data were collected from health center and CHW registers for 36 months (2019-2021). Intervention impact was assessed via difference-in-differences analyses for survey data and interrupted time-series analyses for health system data. RESULTS: Rates of care-seeking for fever and malaria diagnosis nearly tripled in both arms (from less than 25% to over 60%), driven mostly by increases in CHW care. Age-expanded mCCM yielded additional improvements for individuals over 5 years in the intervention arm (rate ratio for RDTs done in 6-13-year-olds, RRRDT6-13 years = 1.65; 95% CIs 1.45-1.87), but increases were significant only in health system data analyses. Age-expanded mCCM was associated with larger increases for populations living further from health centers (RRRDT6-13 years = 1.21 per km; 95% CIs 1.19-1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Expanding mCCM to all ages can improve universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. In addition, strengthening supply chain systems can achieve significant improvements even in the absence of age-expanded mCCM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (#PACTR202001907367187).

Quality of life and associated factors for community health workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in northeastern Brazil.

In this study, we evaluated the quality of life (QoL) and associated factors of community health workers (CHWs) in different urban settings as a contributor to the preparedness of Brazilian primary care for future sanitary emergencies. The sample included 1935 CHWs from 4 state capitals and 4 inland municipalities in northeastern Brazil. Information was collected on QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), work routines, sociodemographics, direct and indirect exposure to violence, general self-efficacy, social support (MSPSS), mental health (SRQ-20) and coronavirus anxiety. The data were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis (α = 5%). In the state capitals, the factors associated with loss of QoL were poor mental health, lack of training, uncertainty about occupational biosafety, and lack of adaptation of services to tend to patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the inland municipalities, the main factors were coronavirus anxiety, poor mental health, lack of adaptation of services, lack of training, and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). A high MSPSS (family and friends) score and self-efficacy had positive impacts on QoL in both urban settings. Our results highlight the need for investment in permanent education, PPE, social support, and mental health care for CHWs.

Barriers and benefits of mHealth for community health workers in integrated community case management of childhood diseases in Banda Parish, Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Low-quality data presents a significant challenge for community health workers (CHWs) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mobile health (mHealth) applications offer a solution by enabling CHWs to record and submit data electronically. However, the barriers and benefits of mHealth usage among CHWs in informal urban settlements remain poorly understood. This study sought to determine the barriers and benefits of mHealth among CHWs in Banda parish, Kampala. METHODS: This qualitative study involved 12 key informant interviews (KIIs) among focal persons from Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and NGOs involved in data collected by CHWs, and officials from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and two mixed-sex Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) of CHWs from Banda parish, Kampala district. Data analysis utilised Atlas Ti Version 7.5.7. Thematic analysis was conducted, and themes were aligned with the social-ecological model. RESULTS: Three themes of institutional and policy, community and interpersonal, and individual aligning to the Social ecological model highlighted the factors contributing to barriers and the benefits of mHealth among CHWs for iCCM. The key barriers to usability, acceptability and sustainability included high training costs, CHW demotivation, infrastructure limitations, data security concerns, community awareness deficits, and skill deficiencies. Conversely, mHealth offers benefits such as timely data submission, enhanced data quality, geo-mapping capabilities, improved CHW performance monitoring, community health surveillance, cost-effective reporting, and CHW empowering with technology. CONCLUSION: Despite limited mHealth experience, CHWs expressed enthusiasm for its potential. Implementation was viewed as a solution to multiple challenges, facilitating access to health information, efficient data reporting, and administrative processes, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Successful mHealth implementation requires addressing CHWs' demotivation, ensuring reliable power and network connectivity, and enhancing capacity for digital data ethics and management. By overcoming these barriers, mHealth can significantly enhance healthcare delivery at the community level, leveraging technology to optimize resource utilization and improve health outcomes. mHealth holds promise for transforming CHW practices, yet its effective integration necessitates targeted interventions to address systemic challenges and ensure sustainable implementation in LMIC contexts.

Exploring existing malaria services and the feasibility of implementing community engagement approaches amongst conflict-affected communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Cameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services. METHODS: A qualitative research study was carried out to understand the barriers preventing communities accessing care, the uptake of community health worker (CHW) services, and to gather perceptions on community engagement approaches, to assess whether these could be an appropriate mechanism to encourage uptake of community health worker (CHW) services. Twenty-nine focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews were carried out between May and July 2021 in two regions of Cameroon, Southwest and Littoral. Focus group discussions were held with CHWs and community members and semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including regional government staff, council staff, community leaders and community-based organisations. The data were analysed thematically; open, descriptive coding was combined with exploration of pre-determined investigative areas. RESULTS: The study confirmed that access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging in conflict-affected areas. Although the Ministry of Health are providing CHWs to improve access, several barriers remain that limit uptake of these services including awareness, availability, cost, trust in competency, and supply of testing and treatment. This study found that communities were supportive of community engagement approaches, particularly the community dialogue approach. CONCLUSION: Communities in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon continue to have limited access to healthcare services, in part due to poor use of CHW services provided. Community engagement approaches can be an effective way to improve the awareness and use of CHWs. However, these approaches alone will not be sufficient to resolve all the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities when accessing health and malaria services. Additional interventions are needed to increase the availability of CHWs, improve the supply of diagnostic tests and treatments and to reduce the cost of treatment for all.

Foot care intervention delivered by community health worker (CHWs): A scoping review.

Variations of Community Health Workers (CHWs) interventions in diabetes self-management education (DSME) have been reviewed by many studies. In contrast, specific interventions regarding foot care intervention (FCI) are scarce and need to be explored further as one preventive measure to reduce diabetic foot problems in the community. This scoping review aimed to identify, and report nature of FCIs and the core components of FCIs delivered by CHWs. The scoping review was undertaken using PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The following electronic databases were searched for articles from data first indicated date through December 2022: CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, Theses ProQuest, PubMed, google scholar and other sources by using search terms related to foot care, community health workers, and diabetes mellitus. Descriptive synthesis was used to summarise the data. Nine studies from 1644 were included. All studies found that CHWs provided DSME in general, and foot care education was included. There was no detailed description of the core components of the intervention on foot care. Although, all studies might not provide detailed data on how CHW provided FCIs; the CHW intervention is an undoubtedly vital strategy to promote and prevent foot problems in medically underserved communities.

Methodology for adapting a co-created early childhood development intervention and implementation strategies for use by frontline workers in India and Guatemala: a systematic application of the FRAME-IS framework.

There is little evidence on optimizing the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based early childhood development (ECD) interventions when task-shifted to frontline workers. In this Methods Forum paper, we describe our adaptation of the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) for task-shifting to frontline workers in Guatemala and India. In 2021-2022, implementers, trainers, frontline workers, caregivers, and international GMCD experts collaborated to adapt the GMCD for a task shifted implementation by frontline workers. We used an eight-step co-creating process: assembling a multidisciplinary team, training on the existing package, working groups to begin modifications, revision of draft modifications, tailoring of visual materials and language, train-the-trainers activities, pilot frontline worker trainings, final review and feedback. Preliminary effectiveness of adaptations was evaluated through narrative notes and group-based qualitative feedback following pilot trainings with 16 frontline workers in India and 6 in Guatemala. Final adaptations included: refining training techniques to match skill levels and learning styles of frontline workers; tailoring all visual materials to local languages and contexts; design of job aids for providing developmental support messages; modification of referral and triage processes for children in need of enhanced support and speciality referral; and creation of post-training support procedures. Feedback from pilot trainings included: (1) group consensus that training improved ECD skills and knowledge across multiple domains; and (2) feedback on ongoing needed adjustments to pacing, use of video-based vs. role-playing materials, and time allocated to small group work. We use the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies (FRAME-IS) framework to document our adaptations. The co-creating approach we use, as well as systematic documentation of adaptation decisions will be of use to other community-based early childhood interventions and implementation strategies.

Main findings: The International Guide for Monitoring Child Development, an early childhood development support and monitoring tool, was successfully adapted for use by frontline workers in rural India and Guatemala.Added knowledge: Our Methods Forum paper uses a detailed framework to document the collaborative, co-creating process used and the adaptive decisions taken.Global health impact for policy and action: Evidence on how best to adapt and optimize early childhood interventions for frontline workers will be useful or scaling up support for children globally.

Project ECHO Brain Health: Assessing the Impact of a Pilot Program to Promote Self-Efficacy Among Community Health Workers.

This mixed-methods study sought to examine the impact of the Project ECHO Brain Health program on participating community health workers' (CHWs') self-efficacy to address dementia, promote brain health, and advocate for research among Latinx South Texas communities. Using an explanatory sequential design, quantitative data collected from pre- and post-program surveys were analyzed to inform the collection of qualitative data, followed by an interpretation of all findings to better understand the impact of the program on self-efficacy. Pre- and post-surveys were collected from 25 CHWs, 13 of whom later participated in individual interviews. There was a statistically significant increase in mean self-efficacy scores between the pre- and post-surveys among participants. Three categories reflecting the experiences of participants were identified from the qualitative data: addressing training needs; impact on CHWs and their practice; and community of learning. The findings suggest that Project ECHO Brain Health program is a timely intervention that may facilitate increased self-efficacy among CHWs as they navigate the impacts of dementia in their communities.

Evaluation of an obstetric and neonatal care upskilling program for community health workers in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: 60% of women in Papua New Guinea (PNG) give birth unsupervised and outside of a health facility, contributing to high national maternal and perinatal mortality rates. We evaluated a practical, hospital-based on-the-job training program implemented by local health authorities in PNG between 2013 and 2019 aimed at addressing this challenge by upskilling community health workers (CHWs) to provide quality maternal and newborn care in rural health facilities. METHODS: Two provinces, the Eastern Highlands and Simbu Provinces, were included in the study. In the Eastern Highlands Province, a baseline and end point skills assessment and post-training interviews 12 months after completion of the 2018 training were used to evaluate impacts on CHW knowledge, skills, and self-reported satisfaction with training. Quality and timeliness of referrals was assessed through data from the Eastern Highlands Province referral hospital registers. In Simbu Province, impacts of training on facility births, stillbirths and referrals were evaluated pre- and post-training retrospectively using routine health facility reporting data from 2012 to 2019, and negative binomial regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders and correlation of outcomes within facilities. RESULTS: The average knowledge score increased significantly, from 69.8% (95% CI:66.3-73.2%) at baseline, to 87.8% (95% CI:82.9-92.6%) following training for the 8 CHWs participating in Eastern Highlands Province training. CHWs reported increased confidence in their skills and ability to use referral networks. There were significant increases in referrals to the Eastern Highlands provincial hospital arriving in the second stage of labour but no significant difference in the 5 min Apgar score for children, pre and post training. Data on 11,345 births in participating facilities in Simbu Province showed that the number of births in participating rural health facilities more than doubled compared to prior to training, with the impact increasing over time after training (0-12 months after training: IRR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.04-2.44, p-value 0.033, > 12 months after training: IRR 2.46, 95% CI:1.37-4.41, p-value 0.003). There was no significant change in stillbirth or referral rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed positive impacts of the upskilling program on CHW knowledge and practice of participants, facility births rates, and appropriateness of referrals, demonstrating its promise as a feasible intervention to improve uptake of maternal and newborn care services in rural and remote, low-resource settings within the resourcing available to local authorities. Larger-scale evaluations of a size adequately powered to ascertain impact of the intervention on stillbirth rates are warranted.

Factors associated with Community Health Agents' knowledge about tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with the knowledge of Community Health Agents (ACS) about tuberculosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 ACS. A questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about pulmonary tuberculosis (component 1) and the work functions of ACS in the National Tuberculosis Control Program (component 2). The level of knowledge, according to the scores converted into a scale of 0 to 100, was classified as: 0-50% (low), 51-75% (medium), and over 75% (high). Multiple regression was used in the analysis of associated factors. RESULTS: The global score (average of the scores of components 1 and 2) median knowledge was 68.6%. Overall knowledge about tuberculosis was positively associated with the length of professional experience, having received training on tuberculosis, and access to the tuberculosis guide/handbook. CONCLUSIONS: Investments in training and capacity-building strategies for ACS will contribute to increasing these professionals' knowledge, resulting in greater success in tuberculosis control.

"I pray to God that greed never sets in": Community health workers' reflections on "care" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Care provision received renewed attention during the Covid-19 pandemic as several healthcare providers vied for the coveted title of "frontline warrior" while they struggled to provide care efficiently under varying health system constraints. While several studies on the health workforce during the pandemic highlighted their difficulties, there is little reflection on what "care" or "caring" itself meant specifically for community health workers (CHWs) as they navigated different community and health systems settings. The aim of the study was to examine CHWs' care-giving experiences during the pandemic. METHODS: Twenty narrative interviews with CHWs including ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) and ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) were conducted in different states between July and December 2020. RESULTS: Our findings highlight the moral, affectual, and relational dimensions of care in the CHWs' engagement with their routine and Covid-19 related services, as well as the "technical" aspects of it. In this article, we argue that these two aspects are, in fact, enmeshed in complex ways. CHWs extend this moral understanding not just to their work, but also to their relationship with the health system and the government, as they express a deep sense of neglect and the lack of "being cared for" by the health system. CONCLUSION: CHWs' experiences demand a more nuanced understanding of the ethics of care or caring that challenges the binaries between the "technical" and moral aspects of care.

Cost-effectiveness of village health worker-led integrated community case management (iCCM) versus health facility based management for childhood illnesses in rural southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: In Uganda, village health workers (VHWs) manage childhood illness under the integrated community case management (iCCM) strategy. Care is provided for malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea in a community setting. Currently, there is limited evidence on the cost-effectiveness of iCCM in comparison to health facility-based management for childhood illnesses. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of the management of childhood illness using the VHW-led iCCM against health facility-based services in rural south-western Uganda. METHODS: Data on the costs and effectiveness of VHW-led iCCM versus health facility-based services for the management of childhood illness was collected in one sub-county in rural southwestern Uganda. Costing was performed using the ingredients approach. Effectiveness was measured as the number of under-five children appropriately treated. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was calculated from the provider perspective. RESULTS: Based on the decision model for this study, the cost for 100 children treated was US$628.27 under the VHW led iCCM and US$87.19 for the health facility based services, while the effectiveness was 77 and 71 children treated for VHW led iCCM and health facility-based services, respectively. An ICER of US$6.67 per under five-year child treated appropriately for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea was derived for the provider perspective. CONCLUSION: The health facility based services are less costly when compared to the VHW led iCCM per child treated appropriately. The VHW led iCCM was however more effective with regard to the number of children treated appropriately for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Considering the public health expenditure per capita for Uganda as the willingness to pay threshold, VHW led iCCM is a cost-effective strategy. VHW led iCCM should, therefore, be enhanced and sustained as an option to complement the health facility-based services for treatment of childhood illness in rural contexts.

Exploring opportunities to strengthen rural tuberculosis health service delivery: a qualitative study with health workers in Tibet autonomous region, China.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to explore opportunities to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) health service delivery from the perspectives of health workers providing TB care in Shigatse prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. DESIGN: Qualitative research, semi-structured in-depth interviews. SETTING: The TB care ecosystem in Shigatse, including primary and community care. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: 37 semi-structured interviews were conducted with village doctors (14), township doctors and nurses (14), county hospital doctors (7) and Shigatse Centre for Disease Control staff (2). RESULTS: The three main themes reported include (1) the importance of training primary and community health workers to identify people with symptoms of TB, ensure TB is diagnosed and link people with TB to further care; (2) the need to engage community health workers to ensure retention in care and adherence to TB medications; and (3) the opportunity for innovative technologies to support coordinated care, retention in care and adherence to medication in Shigatse. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of TB care could be improved across the care cascade in Tibet and other high-burden, remote settings by strengthening primary care through ongoing training, greater support and inclusion of community health workers and by leveraging technology to create a circle of care. Future formative and implementation research should include the perspectives of health workers at all levels to improve care organisation and delivery.

Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Assisted index case testing (ICT), in which health care workers take an active role in referring at-risk contacts of people living with HIV for HIV testing services, has been widely recognized as an evidence-based intervention with high potential to increase status awareness in people living with HIV. While the available evidence from eastern and southern Africa suggests that assisted ICT can be an effective, efficient, cost-effective, acceptable, and low-risk strategy to implement in the region, it reveals that feasibility barriers to implementation exist. This study aims to inform the design of implementation strategies to mitigate these feasibility barriers by examining "assisting" health care workers' experiences of how barriers manifest throughout the assisted ICT process, as well as their perceptions of potential opportunities to facilitate feasibility. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 lay health care workers delivering assisted ICT in Malawian health facilities. Interviews explored health care workers' experiences counseling index clients and tracing these clients' contacts, aiming to inform development of a blended learning implementation package. Transcripts were inductively analyzed using Dedoose coding software to identify and describe key factors influencing feasibility of assisted ICT. Analysis included multiple rounds of coding and iteration with the data collection team. RESULTS: Participants reported a variety of barriers to feasibility of assisted index case testing implementation, including sensitivities around discussing ICT with clients, privacy concerns, limited time for assisted index case testing amid high workloads, poor quality contact information, and logistical obstacles to tracing. Participants also reported several health care worker characteristics that facilitate feasibility (knowledge, interpersonal skills, non-stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors, and a sense of purpose), as well as identified process improvements with the potential to mitigate barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Maximizing assisted ICT's potential to increase status awareness in people living with HIV requires equipping health care workers with effective training and support to address and overcome the many feasibility barriers that they face in implementation. Findings demonstrate the need for, as well as inform the development of, implementation strategies to mitigate barriers and promote facilitators to feasibility of assisted ICT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05343390. Date of registration: April 25, 2022.

Percepções de agentes comunitários de saúde acerca da violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes / Perceptions of community health agents about domestic violence against children and adolescents / Percepciones de los agentes de salud comunitarios sobre la violencia doméstica contra niños y adolescentes

Objetivo: Compreender as percepções de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde sobre violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa, realizado no município de Iguatu, Ceará, Brasil, com 68 agentes comunitários de saúde no ano de 2018, por meio de grupos focais. Os dados foram organizados em temáticas e interpretados de acordo com a literatura pertinente, utilizando a "Análise categorial de conteúdo". Resultados: Os participantes compreendem que a violência contra os menores perpassa a física, abrangendo a violência verbal e psicológica, sentindo-se desamparados na atuação a violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes, não reconhecendo o apoio das instituições de saúde e assistência social, focando-se no Conselho Tutelar. Ainda, sentem medo de represálias e reconhecem a fragilidade no trato ético dos casos de violência, com possível quebra de sigilo, entendendo que o enfrentamento da violência se faz com a abordagem da família, não apenas do menor. Conclusão: Evidenciou-se nas percepções dificuldades interventivas e o receio de represálias, comprometendo as atividades profissionais, gerando a subnotificação e a não intervenção efetiva dos casos de violência conta crianças e adolescentes. (AU)

Objective: To understand the perceptions of community health agents about domestic violence against children and adolescents. Methods: Descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach, carried out in the city of Iguatu, Ceará, Brazil, with 68 community health workers in 2018, through focus groups. Data were organized into themes and interpreted according to the relevant literature, using the "Category analysis of content". Results: Participants understand that violence against minors permeates the physical, covering verbal and psychological violence, feeling helpless in acting on domestic violence against children and adolescents, not recognizing the support of health and social assistance institutions, focusing on them. if in the Guardianship Council. Still, they are afraid of reprisals and recognize the fragility in the ethical treatment of cases of violence, with possible breach of confidentiality, understanding that the confrontation of violence is done with the approach of the family, not just the minor. Conclusion: Interventional difficulties and fear of reprisals were evidenced in the perceptions, compromising professional activities, generating underreporting and non-effective intervention in cases of violence against children and adolescents. (AU)

Objetivo: Conocer las percepciones de los agentes comunitarios de salud sobre la violencia intrafamiliar contra niños, niñas y adolescentes. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, con enfoque cualitativo, realizado en la ciudad de Iguatu, Ceará, Brasil, con 68 trabajadores comunitarios de salud en 2018, a través de grupos focales. Los datos fueron organizados en temas e interpretados de acuerdo con la literatura relevante, utilizando el "Análisis de contenido por categorías". Resultados: Los participantes comprenden que la violencia contra los menores traspasa lo físico, abarcando la violencia verbal y psicológica, sintiéndose impotentes al actuar sobre la violencia intrafamiliar contra los niños, niñas y adolescentes, desconociendo el apoyo de las instituciones de salud y asistencia social, enfocándose en ellos si en el Consejo de Tutela. Aún así, temen represalias y reconocen la fragilidad en el tratamiento ético de los casos de violencia, con posible ruptura de la confidencialidad, entendiendo que el enfrentamiento a la violencia se hace con el enfoque de la familia, no sólo del menor. Conclusión: Se evidenciaron dificultades intervencionistas y temor a represalias en las percepciones, comprometiendo las actividades profesionales, generando subregistro y no intervención efectiva en casos de violencia contra niños y adolescentes. (AU)

Strategies to Improve COVID-19 Vaccination in a Pregnant, Marginalized Population: Quality Improvement Project.

Objectives. To improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in pregnant and recently pregnant women from a baseline rate of 30.8% to 60% over 6 months in a marginalized population. Methods. This quality improvement (QI) project was conducted in a federally qualified health center in Western New York between November 2021 and April 2022, using a Lean Six Sigma method. The QI team created a fishbone diagram, process flow map, and driver diagram. Significant barriers were multiple preferred languages, limited health literacy, and a knowledge gap. Increased vaccination rates were the outcome measure. The process measures were attendance at educational events and increased knowledge in community health workers (CHWs) and doulas. Education for CHWs and patients, creating multilingual educational resources, and motivational interviewing sessions for CHWs and patients were the major interventions. We performed data analysis by using weekly run charts and a statistical process control chart. Results. We achieved a sustainable increase in the COVID-19 vaccination rates in women from 30.0% to 48% within 6 months. Conclusions. Patient education in their preferred languages and at health literacy levels and CHWs' engagement played a crucial role in achieving success. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S4):S322-S329. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307665).