Table 3 Current WHO recommendations concerning the use of CHWs for maternal and newborn health [40]
From: Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 5. Roles and tasks
Recommended interventions to be provided by CHWs for maternal and newborn health: |
• Promotion of the uptake of health-related behaviours and healthcare services for maternal, HIV, family planning, and neonatal health, including: • Promotion of appropriate care-seeking behaviour and antenatal care during pregnancy • Promotion of companionship during labour • Promotion of sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets during pregnancy • Promotion of birth preparedness • Promotion of skilled care for childbirth • Promotion of adequate nutrition and iron and folate supplements during pregnancy • Promotion of reproductive health and family planning • Promotion of HIV testing during pregnancy • Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding • Promotion of postpartum care • Promotion of immunization according to national guidelines • Promotion of kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants • Promotion of basic newborn care and care of low birth weight infants • Administration of misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage • Provision of continuous support for women during labour in the presence of a skilled birth attendant |
Intervention recommended only in the context of monitoring and evaluation: • Distribution of oral supplements to pregnant women (e.g., calcium supplementation for women living in areas with known low levels of calcium intake; routine iron and folate supplementation; vitamin A supplementation for pregnant women living in areas where severe vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem) • Intermittent presumptive therapy for malaria for pregnant women living in endemic areas • Provision of injectable contraceptives |
Interventions recommended only in the context of rigorous research: • Oxytocin administration to prevent postpartum haemorrhage—standard syringe • Oxytocin administration to treat postpartum haemorrhage—standard syringe • Oxytocin administration to prevent postpartum haemorrhage—CPAD • Oxytocin administration to treat postpartum haemorrhage—CPAD • Misoprostol administration to treat postpartum haemorrhage • Low-dose aspirin distribution to pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia • Puerperal sepsis management with intramuscular antibiotics—standard syringe • Puerperal sepsis management with oral antibiotics • Puerperal sepsis management with intramuscular antibiotics—CPAD • Initiation of kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants • Maintenance of kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants • Injectable antibiotics for neonatal sepsis—standard syringe • Antibiotics for neonatal sepsis—CPAD • Neonatal resuscitation • Insertion and removal of contraceptive implants |
WHO does not recommend using CHWs for the insertion and removal of intrauterine devices |