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Community health workers’ efforts to build health system trust in marginalised communities: a qualitative study from South Africa

Watkins, J:W.; F. Griffiths, and J. Goudge BMJ Open (2021) C1

Community health workers (CHWs) enable marginalised communities, often experiencing structural poverty, to access healthcare. Trust, important in all patient–provider relationships, is difficult t... more

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HEARTS. Technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care. Implementation Guide

World Health Organization WHO, et al. (2018) C_WHO

HEARTS provides a set of locally adaptable tools for strengthening the management of CVD in primary health care. HEARTS is designed to enhance implementation of WHO PEN by providing: • operatio... more

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Framework and toolkit for infection prevention and control in outbreak preparedness, readiness and response at the health care facility level

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics are increasing in frequency, scale and impact. Health care facilities can amplify the transmission of emerging infectious diseases or multidrug-resistant o... more

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HEARTS. Technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care. Access to essential medicines and technology

World Health Organization WHO, et al. (2018) C_WHO

Procurement and supply management activities are fundamental to consistent and reliable access to essential medicines and health products. To reduce the impact of CVD, action needs to be taken to improve prevention, diagnosis, ... and management of CVD diseases. Affordable essential medicines and technologies to manage CVD disease must be available where and when they are required. Medicines and technologies need to be managed appropriately to ensure that the correct medicines are selected, procured in the right quantities, distributed to facilities in a timely manner, and handled and stored in a way that maintains their quality. This needs to be backed up by policies that enable sufficient quantities to be procured in order to reduce cost inefficiencies, ensure the reliability and security of the distribution system, and encourage the appropriate use of these health products. In order to avoid stock-outs and the disruption of treatment, all related activities need to be conducted in a timely manner, with performance continually monitored, and prompt action taken in response to problems that may arise. Additionally, medication must be dispensed correctly and used rationally by the healthcare provider and patient alike. The purpose of this guide is to explain the necessary steps. more

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Infection prevention and control and water, sanitation and hygiene measures in health-care settings and shelters/congregate settings in Gaza: Technical note, 22 February 2024

World Health Organization WHO (2024) C_WHO

The situation in the Gaza Strip is dire, with syndromic surveillance revealing high rates of infectious diseases. The risk of further spread may be exacerbated by several factors, including overcrowding, inadequate water and sanitation, disruption of routine ... services, and a dysfunctional health system due to the ongoing conflict. more

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Deprived of the right to health. Sick and without medical care in Germany

Médecins du MondeDoctors of the World (2019) C1

Observatory report by Médecins du Monde/Doctors of the World Germany:“Deprived of the right to health. Sick and without medical care in Germany” gives a rare insight into the situation of those... more

Qualitative assessment of community health workers’ perspective on their motivation in community-based primary health care in rural Malawi

Ndambo, M.K.; Munyaneza, F.; Aron, M.B. et al. BMC Health Services Research (2022) CC

Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) have a positive impact on the provision of community-based primary health care through screening, trea...tment, referral, psychosocial support, and accompaniment. With a broad scope of work, CHW programs must balance the breadth and depth of tasks to maintain CHW motivation for high-quality care delivery. Few studies have described the CHW perspective on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to enhance their programmatic activities. Methods: We utilized an exploratory qualitative study design with CHWs employed in the household model in Neno District, Malawi, to explore their perspectives on intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and dissatisfiers in their work. Data was collected in 8 focus group discussions with 90 CHWs in October 2018 and March–April 2019 in seven purposively selected catchment areas. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using Dedoose. Results: Themes of complex intrinsic and extrinsic factors were generated from the perspectives of the CHWs in the focus group discussions. Study results indicate that enabling factors are primarily intrinsic factors such as positive patient outcomes, community respect, and recognition by the formal health care system but can lead to the chal- lenge of increased scope and workload. Extrinsic factors can provide challenges, including an increased scope and workload from original expectations, lack of resources to utilize in their work, and rugged geography. However, a posi- tive work environment through supportive relationships between CHWs and supervisors enables the CHWs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated enabling factors and challenges for CHW performance from their perspec- tive within the dual-factor theory. We can mitigate challenges through focused efforts to limit geographical distance, manage workload, and strengthen CHW support to reinforce their recognition and trust. Such programmatic empha- sis can focus on enhancing motivational factors found in this study to improve the CHWs’ experience in their role. The engagement of CHWs, the communities, and the formal health care system is critical to improving the care provided to the patients and communities, along with building supportive systems to recognize the work done by CHWs for the primary health care systems. more

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HEARTS. Technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care. Systems of Monitoring

World Health Organization WHO, et al. (2018) C_WHO

Monitoring is a crucial element in any successful programme. It is important to know if health care facilities – and ultimately countries – are meeting the agreed goals and objectives for prev...enting and managing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Monitoring is the on-going collection, management and use of information to assess whether an activity or programme is proceeding according to plan and/ or achieving defined targets. Not all outcomes of interest can be monitored. Clear outcomes must be identified that relate to the most important changes expected to result from the project and to what is realistic and measurable within the timescale of the project. Once these outcomes have been articulated, indicators can be chosen that best measure whether the desired outcomes are being met. To allow progress to be monitored, this module provides a set of indicators on CVD management. Agreeing on a set of indicators allows countries to compare progress in CVD management and treatment across different districts or subnational jurisdictions, as well as at a facility level, identify where performance can be improved, and track trends in implementation over time. Monitoring these indicators also helps identify problems that may be encountered so that implementation efforts can be redirected. This module starts from the collection of data at facility level, which is then “transferred up” the system: facility-level data are aggregated at subnational level to produce reports that allow tracking of facility and subnational performance over time and allow for comparison among facilities. National-level data are obtained through population-based surveys. Implementing a monitoring system requires action at many levels. At national and subnational levels, staff can determine how best to integrate data elements into existing data collection systems – such as the routine service-delivery data that are collected through facility-level Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). In the facility setting, personnel must be aware of what data are needed. Sample data-collection tools are included, recognizing that countries use different datamanagement systems for HMIS, so the CVD monitoring tools will be adapted to work with the HMIS system being used by the country, such that the indicators can be collected with minimal disruption/work to existing systems and tools more

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A case study of the Uganda National Minimum Healthcare Package

Kadowa, Isaac Regional Network for Equity in Health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET) (2017) C1

Regional Network for Equity in Health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET): Disussion Paper 110
This report compiles evidence from published, grey literature and key informants on the UNMHCP since its introduction in Uganda’s ... system, and findings were further validated during a oneday national stakeholder meeting.
Three main factors motivated introduction of the UNMHCP. First, Uganda, along with other lowincome countries, was unable to implement holistically the primary healthcare (PHC) concepts as set out in the Alma Ata Declaration. Second, the macro-economic restructuring carried out in the 1990s, which was an international conditionality for low-income countries to access development financing, influenced the trend towards more stringent prioritisation of health interventions as a means of rationing and targeting use of resources. Third, the government sought to achieve equity with a service package that would be universally available for all people. more

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child health and the provision of Care in Paediatric Emergency Departments

Conlon C., T. McDonnell, M. Barrett, et al. BMC (2021) CC

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health guidance to reduce the spread of the diseasehave wide-reaching implications for children’s health and wellbeing. Furthermore, paediatric emergenc... more

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Emergency water supply planning guide for hospitals and health care facilities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Water Works Association (2012) C1

In order to maintain daily operations and patient care services, health care facilities need to develop an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to pr... more

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WASH FIT: A practical guide for improving quality of care through water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities (Second edition)

UN Children's Fund UNICEF; World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

Fully functioning water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and health care waste management services are a critical aspect of infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, and ensuring patient safety a... more

Strategy for accelerating maternal mortality reduction in the Region of the Americas based on Primary Health Care

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2024) C_WHO

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one maternal death was registered every hour in 2020. That same year, the trend in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for the Region of the Americas regressed alarmingly and unprecedentedly to the levels seen two decades ago. In addition to indicating a wors... more

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WPA guidance on steps, obstacles and mistakes to avoid in the implementation of community mental health care

Thornicroft G, Alem A, Antunes Dos Santos R, et al. (2010) CC

World Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;9(2):67-77. The main recommendations are presented in relation to: the need for coordinated policies, plans and programmes, the requirement to scale up services for whole populations, the importance of promoting community awareness about mental illness to increase levels ... more

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Disruption in essential health services in Mexico during COVID-19: an interrupted time series analysis of health information system data

Doubova SV, Leslie HH, Kruk ME, et al. BMJ Global Health (2021) CC

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health systems around the world. The objectives of this study are to estimate the overall effect of the pandemic on essential ... service use and outcomes in Mexico, describe observed and predicted trends in services over 24 months, and to estimate the number of visits lost through December 2020. METHODS: We used health information system data for January 2019 to December 2020 from the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), which provides health services for more than half of Mexico's population-65 million people. Our analysis includes nine indicators of service use and three outcome indicators for reproductive, maternal and child health and non-communicable disease services. We used an interrupted time series design and linear generalised estimating equation models to estimate the change in service use and outcomes from April to December 2020. Estimates were expressed using average marginal effects on the risk ratio scale. RESULTS: The study found that across nine health services, an estimated 8.74 million patient visits were lost in Mexico. This included a decline of over two thirds for breast and cervical cancer screenings (79% and 68%, respectively), over half for sick child visits and female contraceptive services, approximately one-third for childhood vaccinations, diabetes, hypertension and antenatal care consultations, and a decline of 10% for deliveries performed at IMSS. In terms of patient outcomes, the proportion of patients with diabetes and hypertension with controlled conditions declined by 22% and 17%, respectively. Caesarean section rate did not change. CONCLUSION: Significant disruptions in health services show that the pandemic has strained the resilience of the Mexican health system and calls for urgent efforts to resume essential services and plan for catching up on missed preventive care even as the COVID-19 crisis continues in Mexico. more

COVID-19 Emergency Response: WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Health care facilities (HCF)

reliefweb (2020) C2

According to WHO, infection prevention and control (IPC) is a scientific approach and practical solution designed to prevent harm caused by infection to patients and health workers. It is grounded in infectious diseases, epidemiology, social science... more

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Challenging disadvantage in Zambia: People with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in the criminal justice system

The PAN, the Mental Health Users Network Zambia (MHUNZA), the Prisons Care and Counselling Association (PRISCCA), et al. Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) (2015) C1

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Health Information Translations

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center,Mount Carmel Health System, OhioHealth, Nationwide Children's Hospital (2015) C1

Health Information Translations provides education resources in multiple languages for health care professionals and others to use in their communi... more

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Prehospital trauma care systems

Sasser S,Varghese M, Kellermann A, Lormand JD. World Health Organization (2005) C_WHO

This manual provides guidance for policymakers on the issue of prehospital trauma care systems. The main areas covered include the organisation of the prehospital trauma ... system, capacity development, data collection, transportation and communication, as well as ethical and legal considerations more

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Palliative care for older people: better practices

Hall, S.; H. Petkova, A.D. Tsouros, et al. World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office for Europe, et al. (2011) C_WHO

This publication aims to provide examples of better palliative care practices for older people to help those involved in planning and supporting care-oriented services most appropriately a... more