Table 9 Comparison of tasks of CHWs in their job description and the ones they actually undertake
From: Community health workers of Afghanistan: a qualitative study of a national program
Tasks in the job description of CHWs (BPHS, 2010) | If and how CHWs undertake the tasks |
|---|---|
Community collaboration and health promotion | |
1. Actively Participate in community meetings and events | Segregated by gender |
2. Actively work with mother’s groups and Family Health Action Groups | Mother’s groups and FHA often do not exist |
3. Encourage the community to participate in immunization | Yes |
4. Participate in immunization campaigns | If asked by the campaign managers |
5. Promote good nutrition practice | Yes |
6. Promote the use of ORS and ZINC, and homemade rehydration | Yes |
7. Promote hygiene and sanitation | Yes |
8. Encourage couples to practice birth-spacing | Yes |
9. Promote psychosocial and mental health in the community | No |
10. Raise awareness on addictive substance | No |
Direct services | |
1. Treat mild prevalent diseases | Yes |
2. Implement community-based IMCI | Yes |
3. Implement community-based growth promotion with FHA groups | FHA groups often do not exist |
4. Counsel on correct use of medications | Yes |
5. TB prevention program | Rarely, due to rare cases of TB |
6. Promote ANC and PNC | Yes |
7. Encourage skilled birth attendance (and institutional delivery) | Yes |
8. Distribute contraceptives | Yes |
9. Provide first-aid services to the community | Yes |
10. Ensure administration of Vit A to children | Yes |
Management | |
1. Meeting with community health council | Yes |
2. Meeting with CHS | Yes |
3. Support community midwives | Yes, if there is a midwife |
4. Complete and submit Tally Sheet | Yes |
5. Know the community and develop a community map | Yes |
6. Report mortality and disease outbreak | Yes |
7. Manage the HP, maintain supplies and drugs, and report utilization | Yes |