ArticlePrimary health care research & development2025
Performance of community health volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic: assessing the enablers and challenges in Machakos County, Kenya.
Article in Primary health care research & development, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Bridging the gap: Understanding the needs of community health volunteers to enhance palliative care delivery.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
aimThis study explored the enablers and challenges influencing the performance of community health volunteers (CHVs) in Machakos County, Kenya, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems globally, with particularly severe impacts in developing countries. Community health workers (CHWs) played a critical role in crisis communication, community engagement, case detection, referrals, and maintaining care continuity. However, limited evidence exists on the factors enabling and hindering their performance during the pandemic.
methodsThis study employed a convergent mixed-methods design, integrating focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), and structured data extraction from the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS). Analysis of the data was guided by Agarwal et al.'s conceptual framework for measuring community health workforce performance with the quantitative data being analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data being analyzed through thematic analysis.
findingsCHVs effectively disseminated COVID-19 information, addressed vaccine hesitancy, and mobilized communities, supported by training, supervision, and community recognition. Their efforts led to significant improvements in healthcare services, including increased household visits, immunizations, and maternal health referrals. Despite their contributions, CHVs faced challenges such as delayed stipends, limited resources, and occasional community stigma, which hindered performance. Social support networks, community appreciation, and priority healthcare access emerged as key enablers, fostering resilience and motivation. Improved reporting mechanisms also highlighted CHVs' expanded roles during the pandemic.
conclusionThis study underscores the critical role of CHVs in sustaining healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite facing financial, logistical, and social barriers. Their resilience and adaptability led to significant improvements in key health services, supported by effective supervision and training. Strengthening systemic support, integrating CHVs into long-term strategies, and enhancing community recognition are essential to maximize their impact in future health challenges.
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