Training of Community Health Workers: Recognition of Maternal, Neonatal and Pediatric Illness

Abstract

This systematic review focuses on improving recognition and treatment of acute medical conditions in pregnant women, infants and children in low and middle income countries by Community Health Workers (CHWs). By examining critically selected articles from different electronic databases, this review seeks to organize and present the important characteristics of a training program aimed at reducing maternal, neonatal and childhood mortality. Data in the form of peer‐reviewed and published articles were collected using three public databases – PubMed, Ovid and EMBASE – using specific search terms. Greater than 300 articles where found using the specific search terms. Those articles were then processed through a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria resulting in a cohort of papers which were then individually analyzed for content. After critical analysis of all 15 publications included in the study, it becomes clear that training programs are incredibly diverse. These four aspects of training programs appear to be the most variable between the studies: size of the training program, length of the training program, training assessment and follow‐up refresher courses. Training programs that are shorter in duration or greater in class number do not seem to be any less effective than longer programs with fewer participants. Future studies should be performed in which one training program with identical training techniques, lengths, and focuses is taught in different regions. The impact that this study has on the literature is as follows: Training programs of shorter duration seem to be as effective as their longer counterparts. Finally, there is a clear need for more robust, standardized and geographically and culturally diverse training programs to more effectively study training methods.