Table 3 Types of CHW incentives
From: Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 8. Incentives and remuneration
Financial incentives | Nonfinancial incentives |
|---|---|
Direct incentives | |
Terms and conditions of employment: salary/stipend, pension, insurance, allowances, leave | Job satisfaction/work environment: autonomy, role clarity, supportive/facilitative supervision, manageable workload |
Performance payments: performance-linked bonuses or incentives | Preferential access to services: healthcare, housing, education |
Other financial support: reimbursement of costs (travel, airtime), fellowships, loans, ad hoc | Professional development: continuing training, effective supervision, study leave, career path that enables promotion and moving into new roles |
Formal recognition: by colleagues, health system, community, wider society | |
Informal recognition: T-shirts, name tags, access to supplies/equipment, bicycles, etc. |
Health system | Community-level |
|---|---|
Indirect incentives | |
Well-functioning health systems: effective management, consistent M&E, prompt monthly payments, safe environment, adequate supplies, and working equipment | Community involvement in CHW selection and training |
Sustainable health systems: sustainable financing, job security | Community organizations that support CHWs |
Responsive health systems: trust, transparency, fairness, consistency | CHWs witnessing visible improvements in health of community members |
Complementary/demand-side incentives | |
Healthcare workers witnessing and grateful for visible improvements in health of community members made by CHWs | Community members witnessing and grateful for visible improvements in health of its members |
Policies and legislation that support CHWs | Successful referrals to health facilities |
Funding for CHW activities from state or communities | CHW associations |