Performance of community health workers and associated factors in responding to disease outbreaks in Masaka district.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Community health workers (CHW) also referred to as Village Health teams (VHTs) are community volunteers selected from within their communities to provide health information, primary healthcare support and appropriate linkages to health services. Several have recognized (CHW) for performing a significant role in extending basic primary health care services to communities with limited access to healthcare services at the health facility. In Masaka district hardly any study has been conducted on CHWs’ performance and associated factors in responding to disease outbreaks. Objective: To assess community health workers’ performance and the associated factors in responding to disease outbreaks in Masaka district. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, involving mixed methods of data collection. A total of 427 CHWs were selected to participate in this study using stratified random sampling. Nine (9) key informant interviews with health workers directly supervising CHWs and 6 FGDs with CHWs parish coordinators were conducted. Logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with the performance of CHWs in responding to disease outbreaks. Results: Most 320(74.9%) of CHWs were categorized as high performers in responding to disease outbreaks. This performance was associated with having been provided with case reporting forms AOR= 5.73 (95% CI; 2.01-16.39 p<0.05), having received monetary incentives AOR=2.21 (95% CI; 1.12-4.37 p<0.05), having been appreciated/recognized AOR=2.85 (95% CI; 1.36-5.97 p<0.05), having attended more training AOR=4.25 (95% CI; 2.0-9.04 p<0.05), having been recognized by a health worker at a health facility when a case was reported AOR= 4.10 (95% CI; 1.85-9.09 p<0.05). Low performance was associated with financial barrier AOR=2.29 (95% CI; 1.01-5.19 p<0.05). Conclusion and recommendation: The level of performance of CHWs in responding to disease outbreaks was relatively high. Therefore, it is viable for the Ministry of Health to continue providing monetary and non-monetary incentives to CHWs to help them perform better at the community level.