Strategies for Sustained Empowerment of Community Health Workers

A Qualitative Analysis of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed, India

Bibliographic Data

ID13775650
AuthorsAlexander Kaysin (0000-0002-5169-5610, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland Capital Region Health, Largo, MD, USA, corresponding author), Patricia Antoniello (Department of Anthropology and Archeology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA), Smisha Agarwal (0000-0002-7407-0066, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Henry B Perry (0000-0003-0561-0492, Johns Hopkins University), Henry Perry (Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA)
Year2024
Volume61
Pages469580241235059-469580241235059
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580241235059
PMID38424697
OpenAlexW4392394405
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited27

To understand the core aspects of an empowerment-based Community Health Worker (CHW) training program, we studied the model of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) in Jamkhed, India-an organization known for facilitating empowerment of women as Village Health Workers (VHWs) and agents of community change. We define empowerment as a means by which individuals gain health and development-related skills and knowledge to facilitate positive change within their lives and communities. Using VHW training observations and semi-structured interviews with health workers and senior trainers, 6 themes were developed and applied in 4 focus group sessions with 18 multigenerational VHWs trained by the CRHP. Transcripts were qualitatively analyzed under 6 themes-selection, baseline training, continuing education and support, community participation, community empowerment, and commitment and longevity. Empowerment of VHWs was found to be an intentional process involving the creation of safe and supportive environments conducive to long-term participatory and experiential learning with professionals who facilitate and mentor. The impact of the baseline training is maintained through ongoing program-VHW interactions and knowledge reinforcement in both the field and training center. Importantly, these interactions reinforce VHWs' credibility and confidence in communities served. Community participation was found to be of key importance starting at the selection phase. The methods used for selection, training and ongoing support are critical to developing a cadre of competent, effective and motivated VHWs as well as fostering long-lasting self-development and leadership skills. Downstream effectiveness of community empowerment on health outcomes is demonstrated through indicators such as access to safe deliveries, declining child malnutrition rates, high vaccination rates as well as reductions in stigmatization of illness and caste discrimination

Credibility · Empowerment · Focus group · Medical education · Political science · Public relations · Rural area · Rural health · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

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