Table 2. Characteristics of the CHWs in study countries (adapted from Olaniran et al. 2021) [1,8].
| Country | *Cadre | **Selection criteria | Pre-service training | Role | Primary workstation | Remuneration type | Career path | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | CHCP | • Motivated community member | Three months | • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Treat mild anaemia • Vaccination • Dispense condoms and oral contraceptives |
Facility | Salary + incentive | CSBA | [26]; (Quote 1,2,3,5,6) |
| CSBA | • Motivated community member • Prior CHW training • A woman less than 45 years old; • Last child > 1yr • Interested in conducting normal deliveries |
Six months | • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Diagnose complications in pregnancy • Vaccination • Normal delivery • Basic newborn resuscitation |
Facility | Salary + incentive | Not documented | [26]; (Quote 1,2,3,4,5,6) | |
| FWA | • Motivated female community member | 21 days | • Community mobilization • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Vaccination • Dispense condoms & oral contraceptives • Administer contraceptive injection |
Community | Salary + incentive | CSBA | [26]; (Quote 1,2,3,5,6) | |
| HA | • Motivated community member | 21 days | • Community mobilization • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Vaccination • Dispense condoms |
Community | Salary + incentive | CSBA | [26]; (Quote 1,2,3,5,6) | |
| India | ASHA | • Female community member • Aged between 25–45 years • Preferably married/widowed/divorced or separated |
Eight days | • Community mobilization • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Dispense condoms |
Community | Incentive | Not documented | [27, 28] |
| ANM | • Female community member | Two years | • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Diagnose complications in pregnancy • Treat mild anaemia • Administer parenteral medications • Vaccination • Normal delivery • Basic newborn resuscitation • Dispense oral contraceptives & condoms • Administer contraceptive injections |
Facility | Salary + incentive | Lady health visitor | [29]; (Quote 7) | |
| Kenya | CHV | • Community members • Respected and acceptable Financially self-supported Has leadership qualities |
Ten days | • Community mobilization • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Dispense condoms |
Community | Allowance + income-generating activities | Not documented | [30, 31] |
| Malawi | HSA | • Preferably a member of the community | Three months | • Community mobilization • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Vaccination • Dispense condoms |
Facility | Salary | Senior HSA | [32]; (Quote 8,9) |
| Nigeria | JCHEW | • Preferably a member of the community | Two years | • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Diagnose complications in pregnancy • Treat mild anaemia • Vaccination • Dispense condoms |
Facility | Salary | CHEW | [33, 34] |
| CHEW | • Preferably a member of the community | Three years | • Support ANC, PNC & neonatal care • Diagnose complications in pregnancy • Treat mild anaemia • Administer parenteral medications • Vaccination • Normal delivery • Basic newborn resuscitation • Dispense oral contraceptives & condoms • Administer contraceptive injections • Insert intrauterine device |
Facility | Salary | Community Health Officer | [33, 34] |
* CHW cadres
Bangladesh: Community Health Care Providers (CHCP), Community Skilled Birth Attendants (CSBA), Family Welfare Assistants (FWA) and Health Assistants (HA)
India: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM)
Kenya: Community Health Volunteers (CHV)
Malawi: Health Surveillance Assistants (HSA)
Nigeria: Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) and Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEW)
**All CHWs had some form of secondary education