Uganda’s national community health worker program involves volunteer Village Health Teams (VHTs) delivering basic health services and education. Evidence demonstrates their positive impact on health outcomes, particularly for Ugandans who would otherwise lack access to health services. Despite their impact, VHTs are not optimally supported and attrition is a growing problem. This study examined the support needs and existing challenges of VHTs in two Ugandan districts and evaluated specific factors associated with long-term retention. Findings from a standardized survey of VHTs and exploratory interviews with key stakeholders offer ways to strengthen and sustain community health-care delivery in Uganda.
Project: Community Health Impacts of International Service in Uganda
Citation
Mays, D. C., O’Neil, E. J., Mworozi, E. A., Lough, B. J., Tabb, Z. J., Whitlock, A. E., … Talib, Z. M. (2017). Supporting and retaining village health teams: An assessment of a community health worker program in two Ugandan Districts. International Journal for Equity in Health, 16. doi:10.1186/s12939-017-0619-6