Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024)

Between the Community, State and Professionalism: Negotiating the Experience of Community Health Workers in the Provision of Maternal and Child Health Services in Tanzania

https://doi.org/10.56279/13/02/5
Chakupewa Joseph Mpambije
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:44:"Mkwawa University College of Education, MUCE";}

Corresponding Author(s) : Chakupewa Joseph Mpambije

chajompa@gmail.com

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Research on community health workers (CHWs) has been on increase in the past decades in Tanzania focusing on the provision of maternal and child health (MCH) services. Yet, there is little critical analysis on the experience of CHWs within the community they serve, the State and their professionalism. This review aims at filling the gap by analysing how interaction between the community, State and professionalism facilitate and/or impede the performance of CHWs to improve MCH services. This study reviewed published peer reviewed articles and grey literature which focused on the experience of CHWs in the provision of MCH services in Tanzania. The review was conducted from February to May 2024 whereby the search identified 287 sources from five databases, namely EbSco, Scopus, PubMed, Wed of science and Embase.  A total of 287 studies were identified and through title and abstract screening, in which 28 studies met the inclusion criteria, and were thus included in the final review. It was found that CHWs play a significant role in the provision of MCH services as facilitated by effective community involvement in the recruitment process, responsive health system and sense of volunteerism. Further evidence revealed that CHWs underperform due to motivational and infrastructural issues, high attrition and negative community perception on the services offered by CHWs. In Tanzania, CHWs continue playing a substantial role in the improvement of MCH services.  In order to sustain this role, it is imperative to ensure a proper interplay between the community, the State and CHWs.  In addition, there is a need for more scoping and systematic review on CHWs given the paucity of relevant studies in Tanzania. 

Keywords

Community Health Workers Maternal and Child Health State Community Tanzania
Between the Community, State and Professionalism: Negotiating the Experience of Community Health Workers in the Provision of Maternal and Child Health Services in Tanzania. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/13/02/5
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Between the Community, State and Professionalism: Negotiating the Experience of Community Health Workers in the Provision of Maternal and Child Health Services in Tanzania. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/13/02/5
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