Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee
Abstract Background In Ghana, the community-based health planning and services (CHPS) policy highlights the significance of both community health management committees (CHMCs) and community health volunteers (CHVs) in the Ghanaian health system. However, research into their specific effects on healt...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01099-y |
| _version_ | 1797349677526417408 |
|---|---|
| author | Samuel Egyakwa Ankomah Adam Fusheini Sarah Derrett |
| author_facet | Samuel Egyakwa Ankomah Adam Fusheini Sarah Derrett |
| author_sort | Samuel Egyakwa Ankomah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Ghana, the community-based health planning and services (CHPS) policy highlights the significance of both community health management committees (CHMCs) and community health volunteers (CHVs) in the Ghanaian health system. However, research into their specific effects on health system improvement is scarce. Some research has focussed on the roles of the CHMCs/CHVs in implementing specific targeted health interventions but not on improving the overall health system. Therefore, this research aims to examine the role of the CHMCs and CHVs in improving the Ghanaian health system. Methods The study was conducted in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A total of 35 participants, mainly health service users and health professionals, participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured individual in-depth interviews. Participants were selected according to their patient–public engagement or community health activity roles. Data were transcribed and analysed descriptively using NVIVO 12 Plus. Results We found that the effectiveness of CHMCs and CHVs in health systems improvement depends largely on how members are selected. Additionally, working through CHMC and CHVs improves resource availability for community health services, and using them in frontline community health activities improves health outcomes. Conclusions Overall, we recommend that, for countries with limited healthcare resources such as Ghana, leveraging the significant role of the CHMCs and CHVs is key in complementing government’s efforts to improve resource availability for healthcare services. Community health management committees and CHVs are key in providing basic support to communities with limited healthcare personnel. Thus, there is a need to strengthen their capacities to improve the overall health system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:33:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db1406c36e594da984b0115e4854e1af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:33:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-db1406c36e594da984b0115e4854e1af2024-01-21T12:40:00ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052024-01-0122111210.1186/s12961-023-01099-yUnsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committeeSamuel Egyakwa Ankomah0Adam Fusheini1Sarah Derrett2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching HospitalDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of OtagoNgāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit, Division of Health Sciences, University of OtagoAbstract Background In Ghana, the community-based health planning and services (CHPS) policy highlights the significance of both community health management committees (CHMCs) and community health volunteers (CHVs) in the Ghanaian health system. However, research into their specific effects on health system improvement is scarce. Some research has focussed on the roles of the CHMCs/CHVs in implementing specific targeted health interventions but not on improving the overall health system. Therefore, this research aims to examine the role of the CHMCs and CHVs in improving the Ghanaian health system. Methods The study was conducted in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A total of 35 participants, mainly health service users and health professionals, participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured individual in-depth interviews. Participants were selected according to their patient–public engagement or community health activity roles. Data were transcribed and analysed descriptively using NVIVO 12 Plus. Results We found that the effectiveness of CHMCs and CHVs in health systems improvement depends largely on how members are selected. Additionally, working through CHMC and CHVs improves resource availability for community health services, and using them in frontline community health activities improves health outcomes. Conclusions Overall, we recommend that, for countries with limited healthcare resources such as Ghana, leveraging the significant role of the CHMCs and CHVs is key in complementing government’s efforts to improve resource availability for healthcare services. Community health management committees and CHVs are key in providing basic support to communities with limited healthcare personnel. Thus, there is a need to strengthen their capacities to improve the overall health system.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01099-yCommunity health management committeeCommunity health volunteersPatient–public engagementCommunity engagementHealth system improvementSub-Saharan Africa |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Egyakwa Ankomah Adam Fusheini Sarah Derrett Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee Health Research Policy and Systems Community health management committee Community health volunteers Patient–public engagement Community engagement Health system improvement Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| title_full | Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| title_fullStr | Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| title_short | Unsung heroes in Ghana’s healthcare system: the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| title_sort | unsung heroes in ghana s healthcare system the case of community health volunteers and community health management committee |
| topic | Community health management committee Community health volunteers Patient–public engagement Community engagement Health system improvement Sub-Saharan Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01099-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samuelegyakwaankomah unsungheroesinghanashealthcaresystemthecaseofcommunityhealthvolunteersandcommunityhealthmanagementcommittee AT adamfusheini unsungheroesinghanashealthcaresystemthecaseofcommunityhealthvolunteersandcommunityhealthmanagementcommittee AT sarahderrett unsungheroesinghanashealthcaresystemthecaseofcommunityhealthvolunteersandcommunityhealthmanagementcommittee |