title: Community health workers and stand-alone or integrated case management of malaria: a systematic literature review.
abstract: A systematic literature review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of strategies to improve community case management (CCM) of malaria. Forty-three studies were included; most (38) reported indicators of community health worker (CHW) performance, 14 reported on malaria CCM integrated with other child health interventions, 16 reported on health system capacity, and 13 reported on referral. The CHWs are able to provide good quality malaria care, including performing procedures such as rapid diagnostic tests. Appropriate training, clear guidelines, and regular supportive supervision are important facilitating factors. Crucial to sustainable success of CHW programs is strengthening health system capacity to support commodity supply, supervision, and appropriate treatment of referred cases. The little evidence available on referral from community to health facility level suggests that this is an area that needs priority attention. The studies of integrated CCM suggest that additional tasks do not reduce the quality of malaria CCM provided sufficient training and supervision is maintained.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Smith Paintain
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Willey
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Kedenge
authors: Alyssa
authors: A
authors: Sharkey
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Buj
authors: Jayne
authors: J
authors: Webster
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Schellenberg
authors: Ngashi
authors: N
authors: Ngongo
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D019090:Case Management / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000592:standards*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*