Contextual factors affecting the integration of community health workers into the health system in Limpopo Province, South Africa
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Date
Authors
Jobson, Geoffrey A.
Naidoo, Nireshni
Matlakala, Nthabiseng
Marincowitzc, Gert
Railton, Jean
McIntyre, James A.
Struthers, Helen E.
Peters, Remco P.H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Community health workers (CHWs) are an essential cadre in the health systems of many low- and
middle-income countries. These workers provide a wide variety of services and are key to ongoing processes
of task shifting within human immunodeficiency virus programmes in particular. Ward-based outreach teams
(WBOTs) are South Africa’s latest iteration of the CHW programme and have been introduced as part of the
National Department of Health’s Primary Health Care Re-engineering programme.
METHODS: In order to assess the perceived effectiveness of the WBOTs in supporting the ongoing rollout of
antiretroviral therapy, tuberculosis care and patient support, we conducted a qualitative investigation focusing
on the perceived successes and challenges of the programme among CHWs, community leaders, healthcare
workers and community members in the Mopani district, Limpopo province, South Africa.
RESULTS: The CHW programme operates across these contexts, each associated with its own set of challenges
and opportunities.
CONCLUSIONS: While these challenges may be interrelated, a contextual analysis provides a useful means of
understanding the programme’s implementation as part of ongoing decision-making processes.
Description
Keywords
Primary healthcare, South Africa, Community health worker (CHW), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Geoffrey Jobson, Nireshni Naidoo, Nthabiseng Matlakala, Gert Marincowitz, Jean Railton, James A McIntyre, Helen E Struthers, Remco P H Peters, Contextual factors affecting the integration of community health workers into the health system in Limpopo Province, South Africa, International Health, Volume 12, Issue 4, July 2020, Pages 281–286, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihz082.