Table 2 Types and characteristics of the voluntary community health workers
Types of CHWs** | Programme specific CHW worked for | Specific tasks performed by CHWs | Duration of training sessions | Gender prerequisites | Types of incentives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Community based distributors (CBDs) | Integrated community case management (iCCM) and Community case management (CCM) | Treatment of children under five for pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, health education on child health, and screening for malnutrition and referrals | Six days initial training and three days refresher training | Female and male | Material/in-kind incentives like soap, sugar, raincoats, gumboots, t-shirts etc. Some implementing NGOs gave monetary incentive ranging from USD 25 -50 |
Community Based Distributors (CBD) supervisors | Integrated community case management (iCCM) and Community case management (CCM) | Supervision of CBDs, compiling and submitting reports and ensuring that CBDs conduct effective treatment of children under five in the community | Six days initial training as CBD plus two to three additional training days as supervisors | Female and male | Monetary incentives (USD 100) and materials incentives like raincoats, bicycles, gumboots, t-shirts, backpacks etc |
Community drug distributors (CDDs) and CDD supervisors | Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) | NTD drugs distribution, community mobilisation, awareness raising, and referral of suspected NTD cases to the health facilities Supervisors monitor activities of the CDDs and ensure reporting on the interventions | One to three days training depending on the intervention and one to two days refresher training. Supervisors received additional two days training | Female and male | Material incentives/in-kind incentives like soap, sugar, t-shirts, and transport refund of USD 5–10 when they attend meetings or trainings. In some cases, bicycles were given to the supervisors |
Community nutritional volunteers (CNVs) | Nutrition | Screening for malnutrition, nutrition education and referral of malnutrition cases from community to health facilities, and follow-up of children discharged | Three to four days training and two days refresher training | Female and male | Performance based monetary incentive of USD 30–35 monthly and material incentives like soap and sugar, and t-shirts, gumboots, raincoats etc |
Home Health Promoters (HHPs) | Maternal and child health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Health education, distribution of misoprostol for prevention postpartum haemorrhage, mobilising for health campaigns | Two to ten days training depending on the intervention and two to three days refresher training | Female and male | Material/in-kind incentives like soap and sugar, t-shirts, gumboots, raincoats, torches etc |
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) | Maternal health | Some community deliveries, referral of mothers for skilled birth attendance, health education | Seven to fourteen days training and two to three days refresher training | Female | Material/in-kind incentives such as soap, sugar, gloves, delivery kits, mama kits, torches etc |
Mother-to-mother support groups (M2MSG) | Nutrition and MNCH | Support mothers and their children under five on healthy living, follow on immunisation status of children and antenatal care services | Two to three days training depending on the intervention and one to two days refresher training | Female | Material/in-kind incentives soap, sugar, t-shirts, caps etc., |