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Are large-scale volunteer community health worker programmes feasible? The case of Sri Lanka

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  • Walt, Gill
  • Perera, Myrtle
  • Heggenhougen, Kris

Abstract

National community health worker (CHW) programmes supported by Ministries of Health have been introduced in a number of countries as part of their primary health care policy. Although in many of these programmes the CHWs are salaried or receive an honorarium, there are a number of large-scale programmes in which CHWs work as unpaid volunteers. This paper looks at one such programme in Sri Lanka, in order to understand the motivation of such volunteers and to consider the feasibility of relying on volunteers to support primary health care policies. The lessons from the Sri Lanka case are generalized to other studies. The conclusion is that large-scale community level volunteer programmes will be characterized by high attrition and low activity rates and will only be sustainable under particular enabling conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Walt, Gill & Perera, Myrtle & Heggenhougen, Kris, 1989. "Are large-scale volunteer community health worker programmes feasible? The case of Sri Lanka," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 599-608, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:29:y:1989:i:5:p:599-608
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer L Brenner & Jerome Kabakyenga & Teddy Kyomuhangi & Kathryn A Wotton & Carolyn Pim & Moses Ntaro & Fred Norman Bagenda & Ndaruhutse Ruzazaaza Gad & John Godel & James Kayizzi & Douglas McMilla, 2011. "Can Volunteer Community Health Workers Decrease Child Morbidity and Mortality in Southwestern Uganda? An Impact Evaluation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(12), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Wintrup, James, 2023. "Health by the people, again? The lost lessons of Alma-Ata in a community health worker programme in Zambia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    3. Glenton, Claire & Scheel, Inger B. & Pradhan, Sabina & Lewin, Simon & Hodgins, Stephen & Shrestha, Vijaya, 2010. "The female community health volunteer programme in Nepal: Decision makers' perceptions of volunteerism, payment and other incentives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(12), pages 1920-1927, June.
    4. Gillespie, Stuart, 2001. "Strengthening capacity to improve nutrition," FCND briefs 106, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Zubia Mumtaz & Adrienne V Levay & Afshan Bhatti, 2015. "Successful Community Midwives in Pakistan: An Asset-Based Approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, September.

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