Harmonization of community health worker programs for HIV: A four-country qualitative study in Southern Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Community health worker (CHW) programs are believed to be poorly coordinated, poorly integrated into national health systems, and lacking long-term support. Duplication of services, fragmentation, and resource limitations may have impeded the potential impact of CHWs for achieving HIV goals. This study assesses mediators of a more harmonized approach to implementing large-scale CHW programs for HIV in the context of complex health systems and multiple donors.

Methods and findings

We undertook four country case studies in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland between August 2015 and May 2016. We conducted 60 semistructured interviews with donors, government officials, and expert observers involved in CHW programs delivering HIV services. Interviews were

SUBMITTER: De Neve JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5549708 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature