Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action

Abstract:

Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) are valuable members within the communities they serve and increase access to health care by garnering the trust of their fellow neighbors, providing services including facilitating access to care, and improving the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. In Southern Haiti, there is a health care provider shortage with one doctor or nurse per 3,000 persons. CHWs are critical to help close the gap of the lack of access to care and facilitate the provision of basic health care.

Objectives: To describe the CHW training initiative at capra-care, a community-based health care provider in rural Haiti, using survey and focus groups results highlighting key findings and implications for the CHW initiative.

Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate capracare’s CHW Training program. Focus groups were conducted that documented the lived experience of CHWs following the training program; examined barriers and facilitators to translating the training skills to practice in the community. Pretest and post-test data assessed change in knowledge post the Community Health Worker Training (CHWT) program.

Results: Findings included 51 (57%) of the graduates. A significant increase was observed in mean test scores from baseline (n = 51; m = 61.48 ± 1.80) to post-test (m = 76.93 ± 1.73; t–7.69; P < 0.001), indicating that the CHW training was successful in increasing participants’ knowledge. Themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis were comprehension of skills learned, community benefit, and empowerment.

Conclusions: Results from this CHWT program has implications to increase the health care workforce thus facilitating access to care among community residents in under-resourced regions.