Children and COVID-19 Research Library

Understanding community health workers’ (CHWs) experiences of sustaining routine health care promotion and provision activities as well as their challenges in adopting new responsibilities within a dynamic context is critical. This study explored the roles and perspectives of CHWs within the government-led coronavirus disease (COVID-19) community health response in Bangladesh.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decline in the quantity and quality of maternal and child health services in Indonesia, especially of Posyandu. According to data from the Ministry of Health, at the end of 2019 there were 298,058 Posyandu in Indonesia and only 65.42% were active. To improve the quality of Posyandu, especially when promoting the adaptation of new habits, community health workers (CHWs) play a very important role. CHWs are expected to be drivers for communities to obtain health services. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of and barriers faced by CHWs in improving maternal and child health in Posyandu Cempaka Mekar Cimahi. This was qualitative research, and data were collected through observations, documentation analysis and interviews with CHWs, pregnant women, and mothers who had babies and toddlers in the work area of Posyandu Cempaka Mekar Cimahi. Secondary data were collected from notes, books and brochures. Data were analyzed using interactive analysis models through four stages: data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and verification.

Whilst there is broad consensus that COVID-19 has had a pernicious impact on child welfare services, in general, and child welfare workers, specifically, this notion has not been thoroughly examined in the literature. This exploratory study examined COVID-19 related peritraumatic distress among child welfare workers (N = 1996) in one southeastern state in the United States (U.S.). Findings suggest that the study sample was experiencing distress levels above normal ranges; 46.4% of participants were experiencing mild or severe distress. Sexual orientation, self-reported physical and mental health, relationship status, supervision status, and financial stability impacted distress levels experienced by child welfare workers. Overall, data suggest that COVID-19 is impacting child welfare workers and there is a need to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate initiatives aimed at assuaging distress among child welfare workers.