Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Integrating community health workers into the formal health system to improve performance : a qualitative study on the role of on-site supervision in the South African programme

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Tseng, Yu-Hwei, Griffiths, Frances, de Kadt, Julia, Nxumalo, Nonhlanhla, Rwafa, Teurai, Malatji, Hlologelo and Goudge, Jane (2019) Integrating community health workers into the formal health system to improve performance : a qualitative study on the role of on-site supervision in the South African programme. BMJ Open, 9 (2). e022186. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022186 ISSN 2044-6055.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-integrating-community-health-workers-formal-health-system-improve-performance-Griffiths-2019.pdf - Published Version - Requires a PDF viewer.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (270Kb) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022186

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

To explore the role of on-site supervision in community health worker (CHW) programmes and CHW integration into the health system. We compared the functioning of CHW teams reporting to a clinic-based nurse with teams supervised by a community-based nurse. We also consider whether a junior nurse can provide adequate supervision, given the shortage of senior nurses. A case study approach to study six CHW teams with different configurations of supervision and location. We used a range of qualitative methods: observation of CHW and their supervisors (126 days), focus group discussions (12) and interviews (117). South Africa where a national CHW programme is being implemented with on-site supervision. CHWs, their supervisors, clinic managers and staff, district managers, key informants from the community and CHW clients. Effective supervisors supported CHWs through household visits, on-the-job training, debriefing, reviewing CHWs' daily logs and assistance with compiling reports. CHWs led by senior nurses were motivated and performed a greater range of tasks; junior nurses in these teams could better fulfil their role. Clinic-based teams with senior supervisors were better integrated and more able to ensure continuity of care. In contrast, teams with only junior supervisors, or based in the community, had less engagement with clinic staff, and were less able to ensure necessary care for patients, resulting in lower levels of trust from clients. Senior supervisors raised CHW skills, and successfully negotiated a place for CHWs in the health system. Collaboration with clinic staff reduced CHWs' marginalisation and increased motivation. Despite being clinic-based, teams without senior supervisors had lower skill levels and were less integrated into the health system.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Social Science & Systems in Health (SSSH)
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
SWORD Depositor: Library Publications Router
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Community health aides -- South Africa
Journal or Publication Title: BMJ Open
Publisher: BMJ
ISSN: 2044-6055
Official Date: 27 February 2019
Dates:
DateEvent
27 February 2019Published
8 January 2019Accepted
Volume: 9
Number: 2
Article Number: e022186
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022186
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit: 12 April 2019
Date of first compliant Open Access: 17 April 2019
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
MR/N015908/1[MRC] Medical Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265
105-2917-I-564-006Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwanhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004663

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us