Training community health volunteers to use mobile platform during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Kenya experience

Bibliographic Data

ID15700718
AuthorsAnne Mbwayo (0000-0003-4888-2375, University of Nairobi, corresponding author), Muthoni Mathai (0000-0002-1480-5833, University of Nairobi), Teresia Mutavi (0000-0002-2585-6556, University of Nairobi), Stella Waruinge (0009-0009-5129-4532, University of Cape Town), Noah S Triplett (0000-0003-2325-3599, University of Washington), Tessa Concepcion (0000-0003-2180-3534, Johns Hopkins University), Pamela Y Collins (0000-0003-3956-448X, University of Nairobi), Shannon Dorsey (0000-0001-6240-0294, University of Washington)
Year2024
Volume11
Pagese38-e38
Publication date2024-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCambridge Prisms Global Mental Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2054-4251 • E-ISSN: 2054-4251
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/gmh.2024.35
PMID38618483
OpenAlexW4393095276
LanguageEN
References cited23

This study describes an alternative to face-to-face training method for community health volunteers (CHVs) as used by a collaborative group from the University of Nairobi, University of Washington and the Nairobi Metropolitan Mental Health Team during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya. This qualitative study describes the experiences of 17 CHVs enrolled in a training study, required to utilize different digital platforms (Google Meet or Jitsi) as a training forum for the first time. Verbatim extracts of the participants' daily experiences are extracted from a series of write-ups in the group WhatsApp just before the training. Daily failures and success experiences in joining a Google meet or Jitsi are recorded. Then, 17 participants, 10 women and 7 men, aged between 21 and 51 years (mean = 33), owning a smartphone, were enrolled in the study. None had used Jitsi or Google meet before. Different challenges were reported in login to either and a final decision to use Jitsi, which became the training platform. Training CHVs to deliver a psychosocial intervention using smartphones is possible. However, the trainer must establish appropriate and affordable methods when resources are constrained

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Face-to-face · Medical education · Mental health · Metropolitan area · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Trainer · Computer Science · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Psychology

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