Journal article
Emerging from the Shadows: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Facing Community Health Workers in Western Cape, South Africa
International journal of environmental research and public health, v 17(9), p3199
04 May 2020
PMID: 32375417
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Community health workers (CHWs) have been identified as a key component of the health workforce in South Africa. However, the efficacy of CHW programs continues to be limited by a poor understanding of facilitators and barriers to CHW engagement. This study explores intrinsic and extrinsic factors that CHWs face. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 CHWs in order to understand the challenges they may face as they implement their duties linked to the primary health care strategy in the Western Cape, South Africa. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed using NVivo 12. Drawing on narratives of CHWs, we illustrate the complex issues surrounding CHW outreach in poor rural communities. The CHWs identified five key areas of challenges with respect to personal health, gender issues, poor community understanding of CHWs roles, environmental challenges and lack of patient adherence. These all hinder the ability of CHWs to meet their personal and familial needs, as well as those of the community members they support. There is a need to address the intrinsic needs of CHWs in order to ensure their emotional and physical well-being, as well as a need to create an awareness of the roles of CHWs.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Emerging from the Shadows: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Facing Community Health Workers in Western Cape, South Africa
- Creators
- Wilson Majee - University of Missouri Health SystemLaura Schopp - University of MissouriLevona Johnson - University of the Western CapeAdaobi Anakwe - University of MissouriAnthea Rhoda - University of the Western CapeJose Frantz - University of the Western Cape
- Publication Details
- International journal of environmental research and public health, v 17(9), p3199
- Publisher
- Mdpi
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- University of Missouri's South African Educational Program
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000535745400223
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85084377549
- Other Identifier
- 991021899215104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health