The roles, training and knowledge of community health workers about diabetes and hypertension in Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Abstract
The current roles and capacity of community health workers (CHWs) in the management and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain poorly understood. To assess CHWs' current roles, training and knowledge about diabetes and hypertension in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. A cross-sectional study of 150 CHWs from two non-governmental organisations contracted to provide NCD care as part of a comprehensive package of services was conducted. An interviewer-administered closed-ended questionnaire was used to determine the roles, training, in-service support, knowledge and presence of NCDs. Descriptive analyses of these domains and multivariate analyses of the factors associated with CHWs' knowledge of hypertension and diabetes were conducted. The vast majority (96%) of CHWs were female, with a mean age of 35 years; 88% had some secondary schooling and 53% had been employed as CHWs for 4 years or more. Nearly half (47%) reported having an NCD. CHWs' roles in NCDs included the delivery of medication, providing advice and physical assessment. Only 52% of CHWs reported some formal NCD-related training, while less than half of the trained CHWs (n = 35; 44%) had received follow-up refresher training. CHWs' knowledge of diabetes and hyperten...Continue Reading
References
Role and outcomes of community health workers in HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Citations
What Is the Impact of a Context-Specific Training Program for Home-Based Carers? An Evaluation Study
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