title: Rwanda's evolving community health worker system: a qualitative assessment of client and provider perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community health workers (CHWs) can play important roles in primary health care delivery, particularly in settings of health workforce shortages. However, little is known about CHWs' perceptions of barriers and motivations, as well as those of the beneficiaries of CHWs. In Rwanda, which faces a significant gap in human resources for health, the Ministry of Health expanded its community health programme beginning in 2007, eventually placing 4 trained CHWs in every village in the country by 2009. The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of CHWs and the factors affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the CHW programme, as perceived by the CHWs and their beneficiaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger report assessing CHWs in Rwanda, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect qualitative information regarding educational background, knowledge and practices of CHWs, and the benefits of community-based care as perceived by CHWs and household beneficiaries. A random sample of 108 CHWs and 36 beneficiaries was selected in 3 districts according to their food security level (low, middle and high). Qualitative and demographic data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHWs were found to be closely involved in the community, and widely respected by the beneficiaries. Rwanda's community performance-based financing (cPBF) was an important incentive, but CHWs were also strongly motivated by community respect. The key challenges identified were an overwhelming workload, irregular trainings, and lack of sufficient supervision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the challenges and areas in need of improvement as perceived by CHWs and beneficiaries, in regards to a nationwide scale-up of CHW interventions in a resource-challenged country. Identifying and understanding these barriers, and addressing them accordingly, particularly within the context of performance-based financing, will serve to strengthen the current CHW system and provide key guidance for the continuing evolution of the CHW system in Rwanda.
authors.affiliation: University of Rwanda College of Medicine & Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda. jcondo@nursph.org.
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Condo
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mugeni
authors.forename: Brienna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tuazon
authors.forename: Abiud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omwega
authors.forename: Friday
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nwaigwe
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drobac
authors.forename: Ziauddin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Fidele
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ngabo
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Binagwaho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult