Query: Female health workers

title: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in the Community: Task sharing Between Male and Female Health Workers in an Indian Rural Context
abstract: Male community health workers (CHWs) have rarely been studied as an addition to the female community health workforce to improve access and care for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH)  To examine how male health activists (MHAs) coordinated RMNCH responsibilities with existing female health workers in an Indian context.  Interviews from male and female CHWs were coded around community based engagement, outreach services, and links to facility based care.  Community based engagement: MHAs completed tasks both dependent and independent of their gender, such as informing couples on safe RMNCH care in the antenatal and postnatal periods. MHAs motivated males on appropriate family planning methods, demonstrating clear gendered responsibility. Outreach services: MHAs were most valuable traveling to remote areas to inform about and bring mothers and children to community health events, with this division of labor appreciated by female health workers. Link to facility based services: MHAs were recognized as a welcome addition accompanying women to health facilities for delivery, particularly in nighttime.  This study demonstrates the importance of gendered CHW roles and male female task sharing to improve access to community health events, outreach services, and facility based RMNCH care.

title: Female Health Workers: Problems and Implications
abstract: FEMALE health workers working at primary health centres (PHC) and sub centres, provide comprehensive health and family welfare services to the people at their doorsteps and are the most vital link in the entire chain. They work with the people confronted with illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, deep rooted social customs and taboos. They have to provide services where there is a lack of health culture among the people. People are ignorant and reluctant about health care. Either they go for no treatment or believe more in home remedies. Thus, it is difficult and challenging to motivate the rural masses to use the health and family welfare services available at PHCs and sub centres. Shouldering such a heavy responsibility involving a tough and tiring job, these FHWs working at PHCs and sub centres are exposed to and confronted with many risks and dangers in the scattered and scanty villages. They live alone, far from their families, at PHC and sub centre. Usually the sub centres are located outside the villages. Houses are not in proper shape. The basic facilities are not available in government quarters. In many places, there is no water and electricity. Their job demands odd time visits in the community which creates many problems for them. They do not get the desired respect and co operation from the community. Living in such a pathetic situation, they are not even treated sympathetically, rather blamed for the failure of any health and family welfare programme by the higher officials and the community as well.

title: Prevention and Management of PCOS among the Female Health Workers
abstract: (r)  The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding prevention and management of PCOS among the female health workers of selected PHC of Waghodia taluka. (r)  The study is conducted at selected PHC of Waghodia taluka, Vadodara, Gujarat. (r)  A pre experimental one group pretest posttest design was used. (r) Sampling technique: The samples of this study are selected by using non probability convenient sampling technique. (r) Sample: The sample for the present study comprises of 60 female health workers of selected PHC of Waghodia taluka. (r) Tools for data collection: The structured questionnaire was used as an instrument to measure the level of knowledge regarding prevention and management of PCOS among female health workers. (r)  The findings of pre test data showed that 11.66% of female health workers had adequate knowledge, 45% were having moderately adequate knowledge while 43.33% had inadequate knowledge. Findings of post test data show that 78.33% of the respondents possess adequate knowledge as compared to 21.66% of the respondent noticed with moderately adequate knowledge. Finally, its shows that 78.33% has gained knowledge and raised to adequate. The mean post test knowledge score (23.05) also was higher than the mean pre test score (11.90).The comparison of pre test and post test knowledge scores of female health workers shows the obtained 't' value 19.73 is greater than the table value at 0.05 (2.00) level of significance. Therefore "t" value is found to be significant indicating that there is a significant difference between pre test and post test knowledge of female health workers. Chi square test was calculated to find out the association between the demographic variables and the level of knowledge regarding prevention and management of PCOS among female health workers of selected PHC of Waghodia taluka. The findings indicates that all the variables such as Age (kh 2 1.58) Monthly Income (kh 2 2.76) Religion (kh 2 1.24) Number of Children (kh 2 6.95) were found to be significant at 0.05 level of significance. Thus it can be interpreted that there is a significant association between pre test level of knowledge among female health workers with their selected socio demographic variables such as Age, Monthly Income, Religion, and Number of children. (r)  So we can conclude that the planned teaching program on prevention and management of PCOS has shown its impact as there is a remarkable increase in the knowledge of female health workers regarding prevention and management of PCOS after providing the planned teaching program.

title: Economic Vulnerability Among US Female Health Care Workers: Potential Impact of a $15 per Hour Minimum Wage.
abstract: To investigate racial/ethnic and gender inequities in the compensation and benefits of US health care workers and assess the potential impact of a $15 per hour minimum wage on their economic well being.  Using the 2017 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, we compared earnings, insurance coverage, public benefits usage, and occupational distribution of male and female health care workers of different races/ethnicities. We modeled the impact of raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour with different scenarios for labor demand.  Of female health care workers, 34.9% of earned less than $15 per hour. Nearly half of Black and Latina female health care workers earned less than $15 per hour, and more than 10% lacked health insurance. A total of 1.7 million female health care workers and their children lived in poverty. Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour would reduce poverty rates among female health care workers by 27.1% to 50.3% CONCLUSIONS Many US female health care workers, particularly women of color, suffer economic privation and lack health insurance. Achieving economic, gender, and racial/ethnic justice will require significant changes to the compensation structure of health care.

title: A STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF FEMALE HEALTH WORKERS REGARDING MATERNAL CARE UNDER RCH PROGRAMME
abstract: More than three quarters of the population of our country lives in rural areas. The female health workers at the SC have to take care of all the reproductive health needs of the rural population. Hence the present study was conducted with the objective to assess their knowledge practices in relation to RCH services.  This was a cross sectional descriptive study, conducted in rural areas of Jamnagar district. All the HW Fs of the district were included in the study.  Out of 218 HW Fs, only 71.56% were able to enumerate at least 5 criteria of at risk mothers. Only 40.37% 60% HW Fs performed HB estimation urine investigation of mothers. Only 27.98% knew at least 5 of the indications for referral of the mother in labour to higher centre.  The knowledge skills of HW Fs was grossly lacking in many basic health care components. Negligence in essential health care practices was detected.

title: Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness and Its Response among Female Health Workers
abstract: To determine the level of awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and help seeking responses of female health workers.  Four hundred and fifty seven female health workers were randomly selected and made to complete a structured proforma adapted from the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure (Ovarian CAM) which is a site specific version of the generic Cancer Awareness Measure. Questions were asked on level of awareness of ovarian cancer early symptoms, anticipated time and the barriers to help seeking responses.  Out of 457 clients, 211 (46.2% were able to recall at least one warning symptom of ovarian cancer while 20 (4.4% were able to recall more than 3 warning symptoms. On the other end, when presented with a list of warning symptoms of ovarian cancer, identification ranged from 33.7 72.0% for the symptoms. As high as 28.0% could not identify any of the listed warning

title: Female Health Workers at the Doorstep: A Pilot of Community Based Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Service Delivery in Northern Nigeria
abstract: Deployment of resident female Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to a remote rural community led to major and sustained increases in service utilization, including antenatal care and facility based deliveries. Key components to success: (1) providing an additional rural residence allowance to help recruit and retain CHEWs; (2) posting the female CHEWs in pairs to avoid isolation and provide mutual support; (3) ensuring supplies and transportation means for home visits; and (4) allowing CHEWs to perform deliveries. Deployment of resident female Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to a remote rural community led to major and sustained increases in service utilization, including antenatal care and facility based deliveries. Key components to success: (1) providing an additional rural residence allowance to help recruit and retain CHEWs; (2) posting the female CHEWs in pairs to avoid isolation and provide mutual support; (3) ensuring supplies and transportation means for home visits; and (4) allowing CHEWs to perform deliveries.  Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Poor health outcomes are linked to weak health infrastructure, barriers to service access, and consequent low rates of service utilization. In the northern state of Jigawa, a pilot study was conducted to explore the feasibility of deploying resident female Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to rural areas to provide essential maternal, newborn, and child health services.  Between February and August 2011, a quasi experimental design compared service utilization in the pilot community of Kadawawa, which deployed female resident CHEWs to provide health post services, 24/7 emergency access, and home visits, with the control community of Kafin Baka. In addition, we analyzed data from the preceding year in Kadawawa, and also compared service utilization data in Kadawawa from 2008 2010 (before introduction of the pilot) with data from 2011 2013 (during and after the pilot) to gauge sustainability of the model.  Following deployment of female CHEWs to Kadawawa in 2011, there was more than a 500% increase in rates of health post visits compared with 2010, from about 1.5 monthly visits per 100 population to about 8 monthly visits per 100. Health post visit rates were between 1.4 and 5.5 times higher in the intervention community than in the control community. Monthly antenatal care coverage in Kadawawa during the pilot period ranged from 11.9% to 21.3% up from 0.9% to 5.8% in the preceding year. Coverage in Kafin Baka ranged from 0% to 3% Facility based deliveries by a skilled birth attendant more than doubled in Kadawawa compared with the preceding year (105 vs. 43 deliveries total, respectively) There was evidence of sustainability of these changes over the 2 subsequent years.  Community based service delivery through a resident female community health worker can increase health service utilization in rural, hard to reach areas.

title: Health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors among Iranian female health workers.
abstract: Breast cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection is crucial for optimal treatment and reducing mortality.  The aim of this study was to evaluate health beliefs concerning performance of breast self examination (BSE) and mammography in a sample of Iranian female health workers.  This cross sectional study was performed among 441 female health care workers (physicians=88, nurses=163, midwives=38, officers=68, and others=84) in 3 different health centers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and then Persian version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS)  The mean age of the participants was 34.7+ 13.7. It was found that 41.9% of the workers performed BSE in the past and 14.9% of them regularly, but only 10.6% of them had undergone a mammogram. Perceived barriers to BSE (F=6.351, P=0.021) and mammography (F=5.214, p=0.022) were significantly higher in officers than physicians, nurses or midwives. Perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE and mammography, but not significant (p=0.34 and p=0.56, respectively) Furthermore, perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of the workers who had BSE and mammography were significantly higher than who did not (p<0.05) Perceived seriousness was not a significant variable in BSE and mammography (p=0.71 and p=0.43, respectively)  The health beliefs of health workers concerning the perceived susceptibility of breast cancer and the perceived benefits BSE and mammography significantly impact their screening practices.

title: Cancer of the cervix and cervical screening: Current knowledge, attitude and practices of female health workers in Sokoto, Nigeria
abstract: This descriptive cross sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of female health workers at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto with respect to cervical cancer Pap smear screening. A multistage sampling method was used to select a total of 240 subjects. Data was collected using a set of structured, self administered questionnaire which sought information on socio demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, knowledge of cervical cancer screening and uptake of screening services amongst the respondents. Data was analysed using Epi info statistical software with level of statistical significance set at P 0.05. Almost all [217 (98.6% of the respondents had ever heard of cervical cancer, 217 (98.6% of the respondents had good knowledge 50% about cancer of the cervix, while 199 (90.5% knew that it can be detected by cytological screening. The mean knowledge score was 82.2 13.8. Of the 220 study subjects, only 22 (10% had ever done the screening test. The most common reason for not assessing Pap smear screening services was the perception that the subjects were not at risk of the disease. Education of female health workers on the dangers posed by the disease, and reassurance to overcome all possible barriers towards acceptance of the screening test are recommended.  Cervical cancer, Pap smear, female health workers, knowledge.

title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of breast self examination among female health workers in Isfahan, Iran
abstract: Breast cancer as a most common organ cancer in women is the first cause of death among women with 40 45 years old. The only way to control this disease is early detection, that it can be treated in about 90% of women with breast cancer. The best way for early detection of breast cancer is screening, and the best accessible way is breast self examination (BSE) Considering this fact that female health workers are responsible for improvement of public health, in addition to self care, they can encourage the clients and help to improve healthy goals. Therefore, this study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of BS E among female health workers.  This descriptive cross sectional study was done among 119 female health workers in Isfahan, working in healthcare centers. The method of sampling was clustering. KAP of theses participants were assessed with KAP questioner. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods.  The mean age of participants was 38/3 7/27. The knowledge about breast cancer and doing B SE was good (79/8% in most participants and (72/45% of them have positive attitudes, but only (39/5% of the samples performed BSE regularly every month. A significant relationship was found between the attitudes and the university degree of the health workers and also between age, university degree, and the times of taking part in education classes with performing BSE in the best time for BSE (P 0.005) A total of 12/6% of them did not have a good performance.  Considering that health workers can play an important role in encouraging the clients to perform healthy and preventive behaviors, their weak behavior is not acceptable in these groups. This result also shows that additional studies are needed to identify the factors that make women using screening services and encourage them for using these methods.