Embedding Care in Communities

Embedding Care in Communities: Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Community Health Worker Training Initiative in Rural Haiti Shirley Bejarano, MPH, MS, CPH, Jean Pierre-Louis, MPH, Roberto Benoit, MPH, Tachel Jean, Prachurjya Barua, Taheera T. Ilma, Mariana A. Pinanez, and Yolene Gousse, DrPH, MPH What Is the Purpose of this Study? • This study aimed was to assess the impact of the capracare’s community health worker (CHW) training program in helping trainees develop new skillsets to increase the capacity to obtain employment at capracare or elsewhere post-training, and to develop recommendations for the existing CHW training program based on the evaluation. What Is the Problem? • In rural regions of developing nations, many residents do not have access to health care and there are limited resources available to create new health programs. • There have been some initiatives, including community-based participatory research programs, that have assessed CHW training needs and regulations, but there is still much to be learned about the effectiveness of such programs. • CHW training and implementation programs must be tailored to specific communities in underserved regions and are not a one-size-fit all approach. • It is important to include the voices of the CHW training program attendees in the evaluation of the programs to gain greater understanding of the impact of the trainings. What Are the Findings? • The survey results showed an increase in mean knowledge across training areas for CHW training participants. • The most salient themes that emerged from the qualitative analyses were effective comprehension and application of skills learned, the community benefit of CHWs through education and provision of basic health services, and the empowerment of CHWs by contributing to the health of their community. • The training program for CHWs was successful and may be replicated in similar rural and under resourced countries and communities. Who Should Care Most? • Community-based organization s and health practitioners exploring opportunities to bridge gaps between community members and health care services, particularly in rural areas with low access. • Organizations seeking to develop effective CHW training programs embed them in trusted community settings. [End Page e5] Recommendations for Action • We recommend using capracare’s CHW training program as a model for developing and evaluating future programs. • Organizations should use appropriate adaptation to specific population characteristics and needs where new CHW program are embedded. • Government and health care agencies should make available sustainable funding to establish CHW programs in rural regions in developing nations and maintain the financial opportunity for CHWs in their community. [End Page e6] Shirley Bejarano Women in Global Health Jean Pierre-Louis capracare Roberto Benoit Department of Pharmacy Administration and Public Health, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Tachel Jean Biomedical Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Prachurjya Barua Biomedical Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Taheera T. Ilma Biomedical Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Mariana A. Pinanez Biomedical Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Yolene Gousse Department of Pharmacy Administration and Public Health, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press

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