Community health worker (CHW) programmes have been implemented in various settings to improve maternal and newborn care practices. In South African slums, these programmes aim to address high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys to gather data from a representative sample of slum residents over two years. CHW interventions led to significant improvements in knowledge about safe birthing practices (82% increase) and increased the proportion of women who delivered at health facilities by 45%, highlighting effective community engagement strategies. CHW programmes were found to be instrumental in promoting maternal and newborn care adherence, with notable increases in facility deliveries and enhanced knowledge levels among slum residents. Further studies should explore the sustainability of these programmes over longer periods and investigate how CHWs can better integrate into existing community structures.
Khumalo et al. (2003) studied this question.