Financial motivation models for community health workers in low- and middle-income countries
A scoping review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19529582 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Oumar Mallé Samb (0000-0001-9391-3105, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, corresponding author), Mariétou Niang (0000-0002-3487-9450, Université du Québec à Rimouski), Émilie Gélinas (0009-0007-9948-7187, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue), Ndeye Thiab Diouf (0000-0003-4522-2144, Université Laval), Titilayo Tatiana Agbadje (0000-0002-4363-0585, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue), Abir El Haouly (0009-0001-0097-8039, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 2480412-2480412 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-31 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Global Health Action (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1654-9716 • E-ISSN: 1654-9880 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/16549716.2025.2480412 |
| PMID | 40183780 |
| OpenAlex | W4409177906 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 60 |
Community health workers (CHWs) are key players in providing primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. However, their absence from the formal health system in many of these countries often presents a challenge to their remuneration. The objective of this scoping review is to document programs implemented at both small and large scales in low- and middle-income countries, the remuneration strategies they have established, and the effects of these strategies on the work of CHWs. In total, we included 50 articles in this review. We have identified four types of compensation: fixed compensation, performance-based compensation, compensation based on income-generating activities (IGAs), and combined compensation. We identified the strengths and weaknesses of each type of compensation. A common strength for most models was improvement in motivation and performance. A common weakness for most models was irregular payments. The results of this review highlight the need to consider the economic, social, and cultural settings of the countries or environments at hand, and to include CHWs in discussions regarding the selection of a compensation model
Business · Demographic economics · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Low and middle income countries · Low income · Public economics · Global Health Care Issues · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Finance
Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Product Review
What do we know about community-based health worker programs? A systematic review of existing reviews on community health workers
Community Health Workers in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries
Achieving child survival goals
Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
The impact of maternal and child health and nutrition improvement project on maternal health service utilization in Ghana
Compensation models for community health workers
Who is a community health worker? – a systematic review of definitions
Tying their hands? Institutional obstacles to the success of the Asha community health worker programme in rural north India
Unintended consequences of programmatic changes to infant and young child feeding practices in Bangladesh
The Lived Experiences of Community Health Workers Serving in a Large-Scale Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Intervention Trial in Rural Bangladesh
What can motivate Lady Health Workers in Pakistan to engage more actively in tuberculosis case-finding
A comparative impact evaluation of two human resource models for community-based active tuberculosis case finding in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Culture, status and context in community health worker pay
Which intervention design factors influence performance of community health workers in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review
Relaunch of the official community health worker programme in Mozambique
Community health workers and the response to HIV/Aids in South Africa
The role of community health workers in improving HIV treatment outcomes in children
A Women’s Development Army
Scoping studies
Perceptions of incentives offered in a community-based malaria diagnosis and treatment program in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |