Taking knowledge for health the extra mile: participatory evaluation of a mobile phone intervention for community health workers in Malawi.

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dc.contributor.authorCampbell, Natalie
dc.contributor.authorSchiffer, Eva
dc.contributor.authorBuxbaum, Ann
dc.contributor.authorMcLean, Elizabeth
dc.contributor.authorPerry, Cary
dc.contributor.authorSullivan, Tara M
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-07T13:25:33Z
dc.date.available2020-02-07T13:25:33Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-03
dc.description.abstractIn Malawi where the majority of the population resides in rural areas community health workers CHWs are the first and often only providers of health services An assessment of health information needs however found that these frontline workers often lacked essential health information A pilot project implemented in 2 rural districts of Malawi between 2010 and 2011 introduced a mobile phone system to strengthen knowledge exchange within networks of CHWs and district staff To evaluate the mobile phone intervention a participatory evaluation method called Net Map was used an approach built on traditional social network analysis Together CHWs and district personnel discussed information needs and gaps and the roles of different actors in their information networks They then used drawings and 3 dimensional objects to create baseline and endline maps showing the linkages and levels of influence among members of the information network Net Map provided them with powerful evidence of differences before and after the mobile phone initiative At baseline CHWs were not mentioned as actors in the information network while at endline they were seen to have significant connections with colleagues beneficiaries supervisors and district health facilities as both recipients and providers of information Focus groups with CHWs complemented the Net Map findings with reports of increased self confidence and greater trust by their communities These qualitative results were bolstered by surveys that showed decreases in stockouts of essential medicines lower communication costs wider service coverage and more efficient referrals As an innovative participatory form of social network analysis Net Map yielded important visual quantitative and qualitative information at reasonable cost
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-13-00141
dc.identifier.urihttps://lib.digitalsquare.io/xmlui/handle/123456789/13642
dc.relation.uriGlobal health, science and practice
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectWorkforce
dc.subjectCommunity-based health worker
dc.subjectAccess to information or data
dc.subjectSupply of services
dc.subjectHealth worker competence
dc.subjectAddressing individual beliefs and practices
dc.subjectGeographic inaccessibility
dc.subjectUnnecessary referrals and transportation
dc.subjectPilot
dc.subjectEffectiveness
dc.subjectOptimization
dc.subjectIndividual based
dc.subjectHealth education or promotion
dc.subjectHotlines and information services
dc.subjectProvider training and education
dc.subjectProvider-to-provider communication
dc.subjectService delivery statistics
dc.subjectVoice
dc.subjectSMS
dc.subjectInternet
dc.subjectText
dc.subjectAudio
dc.titleTaking knowledge for health the extra mile: participatory evaluation of a mobile phone intervention for community health workers in Malawi.en
dcterms.abstractIn Malawi where the majority of the population resides in rural areas community health workers CHWs are the first and often only providers of health services An assessment of health information needs however found that these frontline workers often lacked essential health information A pilot project implemented in 2 rural districts of Malawi between 2010 and 2011 introduced a mobile phone system to strengthen knowledge exchange within networks of CHWs and district staff To evaluate the mobile phone intervention a participatory evaluation method called Net Map was used an approach built on traditional social network analysis Together CHWs and district personnel discussed information needs and gaps and the roles of different actors in their information networks They then used drawings and 3 dimensional objects to create baseline and endline maps showing the linkages and levels of influence among members of the information network Net Map provided them with powerful evidence of differences before and after the mobile phone initiative At baseline CHWs were not mentioned as actors in the information network while at endline they were seen to have significant connections with colleagues beneficiaries supervisors and district health facilities as both recipients and providers of information Focus groups with CHWs complemented the Net Map findings with reports of increased self confidence and greater trust by their communities These qualitative results were bolstered by surveys that showed decreases in stockouts of essential medicines lower communication costs wider service coverage and more efficient referrals As an innovative participatory form of social network analysis Net Map yielded important visual quantitative and qualitative information at reasonable cost
dcterms.contributorCampbell, Natalie
dcterms.contributorSchiffer, Eva
dcterms.contributorBuxbaum, Ann
dcterms.contributorMcLean, Elizabeth
dcterms.contributorPerry, Cary
dcterms.contributorSullivan, Tara M
dcterms.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-13-00141
dcterms.relationGlobal health, science and practice
dcterms.subjectAdult
dcterms.subjectWorkforce
dcterms.subjectCommunity-based health worker
dcterms.subjectAccess to information or data
dcterms.subjectSupply of services
dcterms.subjectHealth worker competence
dcterms.subjectAddressing individual beliefs and practices
dcterms.subjectGeographic inaccessibility
dcterms.subjectUnnecessary referrals and transportation
dcterms.subjectPilot
dcterms.subjectEffectiveness
dcterms.subjectOptimization
dcterms.subjectIndividual based
dcterms.subjectHealth education or promotion
dcterms.subjectHotlines and information services
dcterms.subjectProvider training and education
dcterms.subjectProvider-to-provider communication
dcterms.subjectService delivery statistics
dcterms.subjectVoice
dcterms.subjectSMS
dcterms.subjectInternet
dcterms.subjectText
dcterms.subjectAudio
dcterms.titleTaking knowledge for health the extra mile: participatory evaluation of a mobile phone intervention for community health workers in Malawi.en
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