Purpose of this toolkit: to support organizations and communities who work with peers to effectively engage and retain PLWHA in care and treatment.
Primary audiences: directors/managers, supervisors of social services, clinic managers and medical directors, nurses and case managers, state and county health officials in charge of HIV program dollars, planning councils, consumer advisory committees and anyone interested in building, enhancing or incorporating peers into a program
Additional uses: Organizations can review and select relevant sections based on their program’s needs and use the tools and resources available
A qualitative study exploring the views of urban community health workers as they adapt Ghana’s rural Community-Based Health Planning and Service program for a rural setting. Identifies opportunities and challenges for the program.
Evaluates a hearing screening program implemented by community health workers. Young children were screened for hearing loss using a smartphone app, then referred by CHWs as needed.
Abstract available on Taylor and Francis website. (You may need to purchase the full text article.)
The authors of this study sought to determine whether a community health worker intervention might improve disease control and adherence among individuals living with diabetes or hypertension. The CHW intervention was associated with a significant increase in disease management and adherence.
A qualitative study addressing community health worker performance in Uganda. Focus groups were conducted with both low and high performing teams to assess the impact of supervision, peer support, relationships with other healthcare providers and retention and incentive structures on CHW performance.
In this study, community health workers collaborated with frequent emergency department users to identify individualized health objectives and offered services to assist patients in accomplishing these goals. The authors identify barriers to objective achievement as well as implications for policy.
An article exploring challenges around research with these community health workers. The authors point out the challenges of identifying, surveying, and supporting community health workers in the context of research, and offer strategies to engage the CHW workforce at the local, state, and national levels.
Children aged 6-24 months at risk of neurodevelopmental delay were enrolled with their caregivers in a 12-week parenting support intervention plus nutritional support. This community health worker-led intervention was found to improve the children’s communication, motor, and social skills in the study.
An article exploring the relationship between community health worker performance and productivity, as determined by direct observation, interviews with community health workers, and analysis of records.
This pilot study assessing a promotora-led intervention to reduce obesity in Latino preschool children. In spite of higher rates of obesity among this population, there are few specifically tailored interventions available. Though limited in scope, the authors suggest that such a model may be effective in reducing BMI, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and decreasing screen time.