Table 1 Different forms of community engagement for specific types of CHW roles [10]
CHW role | Importance of community engagement | Ways the community can participate |
|---|---|---|
Health promoter/health educator, including communication, counselling, and support to improve health and prevent disease | Behaviour change requires repeated, intensive contacts over a period of time, and is influenced by peer support and community norms | Participatory community or peer groups who witness visible change provide support and continuity for individual behaviour change |
Healthcare provider, including treatment of common illnesses, referral to health facilities, and care and support to the chronically ill | Cultural perceptions of illness and treatment may affect prevention, treatment, and care Social ties influence health outcomes [96] | Participation in quality improvement activities Selection of specialized volunteer cadres who are patient advocates or who support referrals made by CHW |
Agent of change, including support for community mobilization, empowerment, and human rights | Community buy-in and action are required to address some of the structural influences on health (e.g., power dynamics, poverty, and discrimination) | Engagement in the problem-posing and problem-solving process at community meetings can lead to collective action to change community circumstances |
Health manager/enumerator, including vital event and other reporting | Communities may not want to provide vital events information to government officials, but they may be willing to provide this information to a trusted CHW | Visible community health information boards Discussion of changes in health situation at community meetings |