scholarly journals Performance of community health workers and associated factors in a rural community in Wakiso district, Uganda

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 2784-2797
Author(s):  
David Musoke ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Edwinah Atusingwize ◽  
Trasias Mukama ◽  
Charles Ssemugabo ◽  
...  

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) continue to play a crucial role in supporting health service delivery globally. Several CHW programmes around the world face vast challenges which affect their performance.Objectives: This study assessed the performance of CHWs and associated factors in a rural community in Wakiso district, Uganda.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that employed a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 201 CHWs in Wakiso district. The main study variable was CHW performance based on various roles carried out by CHWs. Multivariable logistic regression in STATA was used to establish the predictors of CHW performance.Results: Only 40 (19.9%) of the CHWs had a high performance which was associated with having attended additional / refresher trainings [AOR=12.79 (95% CI: 1.02-159.26)], and having attained secondary level education and above [AOR=3.93 (95% CI: 1.17-13.24)]. CHWs who were married [AOR=0.29 (95% CI: 0.09-0.94)] were less likely to perform highly. Among CHWs who had received essential medicines for treatment of childhood illnesses, the majority 90.3% (112/124) had experienced stock-outs in the 6 months preceding the study. Despite the majority of CHWs, 198 (98.5%), stating that being motivated was very important in their work, only 91 (45%) said that they were motivated.Conclusion: Additional / refresher trainings are necessary to enhance performance of CHWs. In addition, level of education should be considered while selecting CHWs. The health system challenges of low motivation of CHWs as well as stock-out of medicines need to be addressed to support their work.Keywords: Community health workers, performance, motivation, satisfaction, stock-outs, village health teams, Uganda.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Kabali ◽  
Douglas Bulafu ◽  
Hannah Behringer ◽  
James O’Donovan ◽  
Edward Mwebe Mutimba ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although the community health workers’ (CHWs) / volunteer health teams’ (VHTs) work is widely appreciated, some households do resist their interventions, and figures of authority sometimes question their manner and ability. Despite critical shortage of health workers’ world-over, little has been done to explore whether community health workers satisfy the people they serve. To fill this VHT training and support gap, Omni Med Uganda, a local Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda, has been implementing an enhanced hybrid VHT program since 2008. This study aimed at assessing community satisfaction with the CHW activities involved the enhanced CHW program. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was employed. Qualitative data was collected from 217 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, proportions, and means were performed for socio-demographic characteristics, Community satisfaction, and CHW activities. Prevalence Ratios (PR) were used to determine association between Community satisfaction and enhanced CHW activities. Results Majority of the respondents 81.1% (176/217) reported that the performance of the CHWs was satisfactory to maintain their health and that of their families. CHW activities such as confirming sick persons (APR:1.26 :95%CI (1.01–1.44), mobilization for cook stove building, (APR: 1.18: 95%CI (1.04–1.34), and monthly visits at participant’s homes (APR: 1.17: 95%CI (1.01–1.35) were positively associated with community satisfaction. Conclusion Enhancement of CHW activities should be considered during CHW programs. However, CHW performance should also be considered because community satisfaction does not imply high performance by CHWs and adherence to health interventions by the community.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Kabali ◽  
Douglas Bulafu ◽  
Hannah Behringer ◽  
James O’Donovan ◽  
Edward O'Niel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although the community health workers’ (CHWs) / volunteer health teams’ (VHTs) work is widely appreciated, some households do resist their interventions, and figures of authority sometimes question their manner and ability. Despite critical shortage of health workers’ world-over, little has been done to explore whether community health workers satisfy the people they serve. To fill this VHT training and support gap, Omni Med Uganda, a local Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda, has been implementing an enhanced hybrid VHT program since 2008. This study aimed at assessing community satisfaction with the CHW activities involved the enhanced CHW program. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was employed. Qualitative data was collected from 217 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, proportions, and means were performed for socio-demographic characteristics, Community satisfaction, and CHW activities. Prevalence Ratios (PR) were used to determine association between Community satisfaction and enhanced CHW activities. Results Majority of the respondents 81.1% (176/217) reported that the performance of the CHWs was satisfactory to maintain their health and that of their families. CHW activities such as confirming sick persons (APR:1.26 :95%CI (1.01–1.44), mobilization for cook stove building, (APR: 1.18: 95%CI (1.04–1.34), and monthly visits at participant’s homes (APR: 1.17: 95%CI (1.01–1.35) were positively associated with community satisfaction. Conclusion Enhancement of CHW activities should be considered during CHW programs. However, CHW performance should also be considered because community satisfaction does not imply high performance by CHWs and adherence to health interventions by the community.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 467-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Burdick ◽  
Gregore I. Mielke ◽  
Diana C. Parra ◽  
Grace Gomes ◽  
Alex Florindo ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuexue Deng ◽  
Ronghua Fang ◽  
Yaoting Cai

Abstract Background: A chronic state of imbalance between effort and reward can affect sleep quality. However, few studies have explored the relationship between variables in the ERI model and sleep quality in community health workers in mainland China. We investigated the relationship between effort–reward imbalance and sleep quality in community health workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2018 and involved 249 registered doctors and 223 registered nurses. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate the sleep disorder status of participants. The Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire was administered to evaluate job-related stress. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the factors related to sleep quality. Results: The ERI ratio of 472 health workers was 1.17 ± 0.22, and 273 health workers (57.84%) had PSQI scores >7. There were statistically significant differences in effort scores, overcommitment scores and the total ERI ratio between the health workers with sleep disorders and those without sleep disorders. The ERI ratio was an independent risk factor for sleep quality; age, education, type of work, shift work, and job title were related to the ERI ratio. Conclusions: This study found that sleep disorders were prevalent, work effort was greater than reward and a positive correlation between effort-reward and sleep quality among the health workers community in China. Managers should pay attention to the factors that influence sleep disorders among community health workers, balance the efforts and rewards of work, and reduce the incidence of sleep disorders.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najmunnisa K P ◽  
Susan Thomas Thomas ◽  
Mary Shimi S Gomez ◽  
Jesline Merly James ◽  
Vivek Narayan

Abstract BackgroundBeliefs and attitudes of community health workers affect their oral health behaviour and knowledge which in turn affects their potential to motivate the public to undertake preventive oral health measures. This study was performed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices as well as determinants of oral health behaviour among community health workers in rural regions of Kerala.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 community healthcare workers at primary health centres in the Ettumanoor block zone, Kottayam. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used. Data regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral health were acquired through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Statistical association between responses in different group of health workers were determined by using Chi-square test. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used to test the difference in attitude and knowledge scores. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied to identify factors associated with the oral health behaviour of community health workers.ResultsAbout 65% of the participants exhibited poor oral health behaviour. A positive attitude has a significant relation with oral health behaviour status of the participants (p=0.003). Community health workers who attended an oral health education program had a better oral health behaviour status when compared to those who had not attended (p=0.006). ConclusionsThe results emphasize that oral health education should be given to all the community health workers to enhance their awareness about preventive oral health care.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amul Shrestha ◽  
Tek Bahadur Thapa ◽  
Mahendra Giri ◽  
Sanjiv Kumar ◽  
Sakil Dhobi ◽  
...  

Abstract 1. Background: Emerging and reemerging pathogens are global challenges for public health and the pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 is a reemerging case of an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corornavirus-2 . Health care worker worldwide are at higher risk worldwide and the situation is the same in Nepal. The knowledge and attitude of health workers will certainly mark the outcome towards this pandemic. So, this study aims to assess the knowledge and attitude of community health workers towards the prevention of COVID-19 virus.2. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among the community health workers of various provinces of Nepal. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was prepared in google form and circulated to the sampled health workers through various social media platforms like Facebook, messenger, Instagram, g-mails and messengers. Responses containing anonymized data was collected analyzed in using SPSS-version-20. The results were interpreted and was checked with various demographic and enabling factors using chi-square test and logistic regression model. Also, ethical approval was taken from NHRC (ERB protocol registration number: 360/2020P) prior to the conduction of study.3. Results: Out the total sample size of 450, we took 399 responses taking into consideration all the inclusion criteria. So, from 399 valid response, 230 (47.6%) were males and 169 (42.4%) were females. 380 (95.2%) employed participants thought that wearing PPE will reduce the chances of getting COVID-19, majority of the participants 80.5%(321) responded that COVID-19 will successfully be controlled and staffs receiving excellent support from palika had high knowledge level. Knowledge level was significantly associated with the enabling factor “support from palika” (P=0.045).4. Conclusions: Proper and adequate knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 is a paramount in the prevention and control of SARS-COV2 for everyone and especially the HCW’s who are the frontline workers. There is a need to orient more HCW’s regarding COVID-19, preventive measures. 45.9% of the respondents had no availability of COVID-19 response medical items for prevention of COVID-19 at their respective health facilities which is a serious issue which need to address very quickly to fight against the pandemic.


Author(s):  
David P. Ngilangwa ◽  
George S. Mgomella

Background: Attrition of community health workers (CHWs) continues to threaten the full realisation and sustainability of community-based health programmes globally. Aim: This study aimed to understand factors associated with CHWs’ recruitment and their retention. Setting: This study was conducted in five districts of the Simiyu Region, namely, Bariadi, Busega, Itilima, Maswa and Meatu in north-western Tanzania. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, 341 CHWs who were working with the maternal health programme were randomly selected. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to all participants. Data were descriptively and inferentially analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Majority (58.0%) of CHWs were below 35 years. Over half (53.1%) had completed primary education only. Motivation factors for being CHW were aspiration to serve the community and desire for further training to become a qualified medical practitioner. Community recognition and financial incentives were among the key retention reasons for the CHWs. Being married (odds ratio [OR] 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–20.1) having prior volunteer experience (OR 10.5 95% CI 12.7–40.5) and prior employment OR 21.8 (CI 12.2–38.9) were positively associated with retention of CHWs, while being a female was negatively associated with retention OR 0.4 (CI 0.2–0.8). Conclusions: Both financial and non-financial incentives were critical in contributing to the retention of CHWs. Thus, health programmes should carefully select CHWs by understanding their motives beforehand, and provide them with incentives.


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