Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Millennium Promise Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Glob Public Health. 2020 Oct;15(10):1509-1521. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1762238. Epub 2020 May 12.
In rural settings with shortages in trained health care workers, community health workers (CHWs) play an important role in the delivery of health care services. The Ghana Health Service initiated a national CHW programme in 2016 to expand health services to rural populations. This study explored the perceived role and value of CHWs in addressing family planning issues in the Amansie West district of Ghana. The study included in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 28 women in the community, ages 18-49, and 30 CHWs. Using inductive thematic analysis, IDIs were coded to explore opinions on the CHWs' role and perceived value in the delivery of family planning. Participants explained that CHWs provided family planning as part of a healthcare package through household visits and referrals to government services. The value of CHWs in delivering family planning was seen in confidentiality, accessibility, and comfort. Participants recommended an enlarged CHW workforce with a range of commodities and programmatic support. The findings suggest CHWs play an important role in promoting family planning, by serving as a bridge between the community and clinics. In rural communities where resources are scarce, CHWs are an invaluable part of the broader healthcare system.
在农村地区，由于训练有素的医疗保健工作者短缺，社区卫生工作者（CHWs）在提供医疗保健服务方面发挥着重要作用。加纳卫生服务部门于 2016 年启动了一项全国 CHW 计划，旨在将卫生服务扩展到农村人口。本研究探讨了加纳 Amansie West 区 CHWs 在解决计划生育问题方面的感知作用和价值。该研究包括对社区中 28 名年龄在 18-49 岁的妇女和 30 名 CHWs 进行深入访谈（IDIs）。使用归纳主题分析，对 IDIs 进行编码，以探讨对 CHWs 在提供计划生育方面的作用和感知价值的看法。参与者解释说，CHWs 通过家访和转介到政府服务，将计划生育作为医疗保健套餐的一部分提供。CHWs 在提供计划生育方面的价值体现在保密性、可及性和舒适性上。参与者建议扩大 CHW 劳动力队伍，提供各种商品和计划支持。研究结果表明，CHWs 在促进计划生育方面发挥了重要作用，充当了社区和诊所之间的桥梁。在资源匮乏的农村社区，CHWs 是更广泛医疗保健系统的宝贵组成部分。
