From policy to practice: a qualitative study exploring the role of community health workers during the COVID-19 response in Sierra Leone

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, community health workers (CHWs) were required to help their communities respond to the outbreak in Sierra Leone. The Government of Sierra Leone released a policy that provided an interim guidance on the specific role of CHWs during the pandemic including support required to maintain continuity of routine and essential services during the COVID-19 response. This study explores how CHWs adapted their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone and the support they received from families, communities, and the health system.

The study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, CHWs played a critical role in Sierra Leone. Although, a policy was released by the government to guide their role during the crisis, it was not fully implemented. This resulted in CHWs being overworked and under supported. It is important that CHWs are provided with the necessary training, tools and support to take on their vital roles in managing health crises at the community level. Strengthening the capacity of CHWs will not only enhance pandemic response, but also lay the foundation for improved primary health care delivery and community resilience in the face of future health emergencies.

Further information

This paper is based on the study The gendered experience of close-to-community providers in fragile and shock-prone settings: implications for policy and practice during and post COVID-19. There’s more on the study and other outputs here. 

Citation

Kallon, L.H., Raven, J., Wurie, H.R. et al. From policy to practice: a qualitative study exploring the role of community health workers during the COVID-19 response in Sierra Leone. BMC Health Serv Res 23, 1228 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10272-6

Read this BMC Health Services Research paper here. [opens new tab]