-
A qualitative assessment of health extension workers’ relationships with the community and health sector in Ethiopia: opportunities for enhancing maternal health performance.
March 16, 2016 Editor 0
Related Articles A qualitative assessment of health extension workers’ relationships with the community and health sector in Ethiopia: opportunities for enhancing maternal health performance.
Hum Resour Health. 2015;13:80
Authors: Kok MC, Kea AZ, Datiko DG, Broerse JE, Dieleman M, Taegtmeyer M, Tulloch O
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health extension workers (HEWs) in Ethiopia have a unique position, connecting communities to the health sector. This intermediary position requires strong interpersonal relationships with actors in both the community and health sector, in order to enhance HEW performance. This study aimed to understand how relationships between HEWs, the community and health sector were shaped, in order to inform policy on optimizing HEW performance in providing maternal health services.
METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study in six districts in the Sidama zone, which included focus group discussions (FGDs) with HEWs, women and men from the community and semi-structured interviews with HEWs; key informants working in programme management, health service delivery and supervision of HEWs; mothers; and traditional birth attendants. Respondents were asked about facilitators and barriers regarding HEWs’ relationships with the community and health sector. Interviews and FGDs were recorded, transcribed, translated, coded and thematically analysed.
RESULTS: HEWs were selected by their communities, which enhanced trust and engagement between them. Relationships were facilitated by programme design elements related to support, referral, supervision, training, monitoring and accountability. Trust, communication and dialogue and expectations influenced the strength of relationships. From the community side, the health development army supported HEWs in liaising with community members. From the health sector side, top-down supervision and inadequate training possibilities hampered relationships and demotivated HEWs. Health professionals, administrators, HEWs and communities occasionally met to monitor HEW and programme performance. Expectations from the community and health sector regarding HEWs’ tasks sometimes differed, negatively affecting motivation and satisfaction of HEWs.
CONCLUSION: HEWs’ relationships with the community and health sector can be constrained as a result of inadequate support systems, lack of trust, communication and dialogue and differing expectations. Clearly defined roles at all levels and standardized support, monitoring and accountability, referral, supervision and training, which are executed regularly with clear communication lines, could improve dialogue and trust between HEWs and actors from the community and health sector. This is important to increase HEW performance and maximize the value of HEWs’ unique position.PMID: 26423049 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Related Posts
West Africa: West African Science Too Reliant On Foreign Cooperation
Competitive Cities: Which Are They, and Why Should We Care?
South Africa: New Agreement Will Foster High-Level Science Collaboration With the U.S.
- Don’t miss hotspots of agricultural innovation
Mobile Statistics in East Africa
In ICT4D Beneficiaries vs. Constituents, What About Client-Driven Development?
Categories: Health
Financial inclusion of women in five charts Determined to deliver: Private-sector ingenuity boosts public-sector results, through executive ‘delivery units’
Subscribe to our stories
Recent Posts
- SL Crowd Green Solutions September 21, 2020
- Digital transformation in the banking sector: surveys exploration and analytics August 3, 2020
- Why Let Others Disrupt You? Take the Smart Self-Disruption Journey! August 3, 2020
- 5 Tips for Crowdfunding During the Pandemic August 3, 2020
- innovation + africa; +639 new citations August 3, 2020
Categories
Archives
Popular Post-All time
- A review on biomass-based... 0.9k views
- Can blockchain disrupt ge... 672 views
- Prize-winning projects pr... 646 views
- Apply Now: $500,000 for Y... 602 views
- Test Your Value Propositi... 524 views