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 the Government Service of Jamaica. There were in the service 1,328 CHAs in 1978, reduced to 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 questionnaires were returned from all parishes in the four Administrative Health areas in Jamaica. The responses from community members are very important in the assessment of community 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.