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. 2021 Feb 18;20(1):102.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-021-03640-2.

Needs assessment of community health workers to enhance efficient delivery of their services for community case management of malaria in Kenya

Michelle D S Boakye  1 , Collins J Owek  2 , Elizabeth Oluoch  3 , Sefa Bonsu Atakora  4 , Juddy Wachira  5 , Yaw A Afrane  6
Affiliations

Needs assessment of community health workers to enhance efficient delivery of their services for community case management of malaria in Kenya

Michelle D S Boakye et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Malaria continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) which is undertaken by engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) to effectively address management of malaria cases in some endemic communities was explored in this study. The aim was to assess the needs of CHWs that would help sustain and retain their services to enhance the efficient delivery of CCMm.

Methods: Using semi-structured questionnaires, data on the needs of CHWs was gathered through a qualitative study consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted among study participants in five districts in western Kenya. The study participants comprised of 100 CHWs, 100 mothers of children under five years and 25 key informants made up of public health officers and clinicians involved in the CCMm. The interviews were conducted in English and Swahili or Dholuo, the local language. The recorded audio interviews were transcribed later. The analysis was done using NVivo version 7 software and transcripts were coded after which themes related to the objectives of the study were identified.

Results: All the study participants recognized the need to train and update CHWs on their work as well as remunerating them for their services to enhance efficient delivery of services. The CHWs on their part perceived the provision of gloves, rapid diagnostic test kits (RDTs), lancets, cotton wool and ethanol, bins (to dispose of RDTs and lancets), together with drugs for treating clients as the essential needs to undertake CCMm in the communities. Other logistical needs and incentives mentioned by CHWs and key informants for the successful delivery of CCMm included: gumboots, raincoats, torch lights, mobile phones, means of transportation (bicycles and motorbikes), uniforms and ID cards for identification.

Conclusions: CHWs would perform tasks better and their services retained for a sustainable CCMm if: properly incentivized; offered refresher trainings (and updates) on malaria; and equipped with the requisite tools identified in this study.

Keywords: Community Case Management of Malaria; Community Health Workers; Needs assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. All authors declare that we all had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

References

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