Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Enhancing Performance and Sustainability of Community Health Worker Programs in Uganda: Lessons and Experiences From
David Musoke1, Edwinah Atusingwize2, Rawlance Ndejjo2
1Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. dmusoke@musph.ac.ug.
Background:
Community health worker (CHW) programs in Uganda have contributed to improved health outcomes in recent years. However, opportunities for engaging the various stakeholders supporting CHW programs have been limited. This article presents workshop findings where several stakeholders shared their lessons and experiences that can enhance performance and sustainability of CHW programs in Uganda.
Methods:
We collected qualitative data from stakeholders from government, private, and community organizations, as well as CHWs, involved in CHW programs in Uganda during a 1-day workshop. The workshop involved plenary presentations and group discussions on critical aspects of CHW programs. All proceedings from the workshop were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by thematic content analysis.
Results:
Four major themes emerged from the workshop: lessons learned in implementing CHW programs, challenges affecting CHW programs, performance of CHWs, and ensuring sustainability of CHW programs. Key lessons learned related to 3 main subthemes: capacity building and use of technology, supervision and motivation, and stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Challenges affecting CHW programs identified included poor coordination, fragmented data collection systems, high program expectations, inadequate support mechanisms, and high dropout rates. Mechanisms for improving the performance of CHWs emphasized the need to: strengthen recruitment, training, and retention strategies; improve motivation; streamline coordination mechanisms; and develop and strengthen community health policies. The sustainability of CHW programs requires institutionalization; sustainable funding; economic empowerment of CHWs; local ownership; and a strengthened research agenda.
Conclusion:
To improve the performance and sustainability of CHWs programs, stakeholders such as policy makers and implementing partners need to consider CHW needs, existing structures and policies, as well as local support.
More Related Videos
05:04Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
13:44Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:30Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
01:18Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...