Table 2 Local health system linkage with CHWs and CHW catchment area by country
Country | CHW cadre | Local health facility to which CHW is attached | CHW catchment areas population served |
|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Community health workers (working at health posts and in the community) | Basic and comprehensive health centres | 1 male and 1 female in each health post serving a minimum of 150 households |
Bangladesh government | Family welfare assistants Health assistants Community healthcare providers | Health and family welfare centres (government) Community clinics (government) NGO health centres | Maximum of 500 eligible couples 6000 people 6000 people |
Bangladesh BRAC | BRAC shasthya shebikas BRAC shasthya kormis | None | 450 households 4500 households |
Brazil | Community health agents (5–6 per family health team), and several family health teams for each health centre | Health centres | 750 people per CHA 3500 people per family health team |
Ethiopia | Health extension workers (working at a health post and in the community) Women’s Development Army volunteer | Health centres | 2500–4000 people 5 households |
Ghana | Community health officers (at community clinics) Community health volunteers | Subdistrict clinics and health centres | 5000 people 2500 people |
Guatemala | CHWs (health guardian) | Health centres/health posts | 2500 people |
India—current | Auxiliary nurse midwives Anganwadi workers Accredited social health activists | Community health centres, sub-centres, and primary healthcare centres | 2000–3000 people 1000 people 1000–2500 people |
India 1997–2002 | Village health guides | Data not available | Data not available |
Indonesia | Kaders | Community health centres or sub-centres | 700 people Kaders run the posyandus, each serving about 100 children and 10–20 families; and about 700 people in the community |
Iran | Moraghebe-salamats based in urban health posts Behvarzs based in rural health posts | Comprehensive health centres | 1000–3000 people |
Kenya | Community health volunteers | Primary healthcare centres and community health units | 500 people (100 households) |
Liberia | Community health assistants | Clinics | 350 people |
Madagascar | Agents communautaires (ACs) Nutrition ACs | Basic health centres | Varies Varies |
Malawi | Health surveillance assistant (HSAs) | Health centres and maternity facilities | 1000 people |
Mozambique | Agents polivantes elementares (working at health posts) | PHC centres | Between 500 and 2000 people |
Myanmar | Auxiliary midwives Community health workers Malaria volunteers TB volunteers | Health centres and sub-centres | Varies Varies Varies Varies |
Nepal | Female community health volunteers | Health posts (staffed by full-time paid staff) | 365 people |
Niger | Agents de Santé communitaire Relais volunteers | Health posts | 2000 people Varies |
Nigeria | Community health extension workers Voluntary village health workers | Health centres | 4000 people 1000 people |
Pakistan | Lady health workers | Health centres | 1000 people |
Rwanda | Binôme (male and female pair) Animatrices de Santé Maternelle | Health centres | 2 per village 1 per village The 3 together serve 50–150 households |
Sierra Leone | Community health workers | Peripheral health units | 250 people in hard-to-reach areas and 1000 people in easy-to-reach areas |
South Africa | Community health workers | Health centres (public and private mix) | 140–250 households |
Tanzania | Community health workers Volunteer community health workers | Health dispensaries and health centres | Not available Not available |
Thailand | Village health volunteers | Health centres | 10–20 households but varies |
Uganda | Village health team members | Health centres | 250 people |
Zambia | Community health assistants Community-based volunteers | Health centres and health posts | 3500 people Not available |
Zimbabwe | Village health Workers | Health centres | 100 households |