Key message box 1. Summary
Key findings
This article provides a list of 10 questions that can help programme planners think about important issues when determining CHW roles and tasks: • How effective and safe will it be to use CHWs to perform a specific task? • Are CHWs’ roles and tasks likely to be regarded as acceptable by CHWs and their clients and communities? • Are CHW roles and tasks considered relevant by the community? • Is there a good match between the CHWs and the roles and tasks expected of them? • How many tasks and activities should each CHW take on? • What is most feasible for the health system? • When and where will CHWs deliver each task and how much workload will it require? • What kind of skills and training will the CHW need when performing specific tasks? • What type of health system support will the CHW require when performing the task? • How much will it cost to use CHWs to perform the task?
Key implications
• When planning new CHW roles or expanding the roles of existing CHWs, programme planners need to base their decisions on global and local evidence and guidance • Planners need to consider the effectiveness and safety of relevant tasks performed by CHWs. They also need to assess whether the recommended CHW roles and tasks are considered acceptable and appropriate by their target population and by the CHWs themselves and those who support them. Finally, planners need to think about the practical and organizational implications of each task for their particular setting with regard to training requirements, health systems support, work location, workload, and programme costs.