Submission ID 118453
| Issue/Objective | The period between 2015/2016 and 2022 witnessed impressive gains in Tanzania's maternal health landscape, with maternal mortality decreasing by nearly 80%, from 556 to 104 deaths per 100,000 live births (TDHS, 2022). Nevertheless, the persistent challenge of high neonatal mortality, approximately 24 deaths per 1,000 live births (equating to an estimated 46,000 neonatal deaths and 43,000 stillbirths annually [TDHIS-MIS 2022]), highlights the ongoing need for effective community-level interventions. Recognizing the vital role of a skilled community health workforce, capacity building for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) was identified as a priority. In response, Amref Health Africa implemented an innovative intervention designed to empower CHWs in delivering these critical services at the community level, thereby addressing the limited access and awareness contributing to preventable deaths. |
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| Methodology/Approach | The Thamini Uzazi Salama initiative, implemented by Amref Health Africa with support from Global Affairs Canada through UNFPA, uses the LEAP platform to provide mHealth-based training to CHWs on RMNCAH modules from the Community-Based Health Services (CBHS) Guidelines. Trained CHWs then use this knowledge and skills to educate community members, particularly young women and mothers, on RMNCAH. This approach involves a structured, three-month mHealth training for CHWs from Dar es Salaam and Shinyanga (August-November 2024), where the LEAP platform delivers training materials, case studies, and quizzes via mobile devices, enabling real-time, flexible, and self-paced learning. |
| Results | The successful completion of all training modules by all 112 trained Community Health Workers provides strong evidence for the feasibility, relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of mHealth platforms in significantly improving their capacity to deliver essential community-based healthcare services, with a particular focus on RMNCAH. This enhanced capacity has already been translated into tangible impact, with CHWs reaching a total of 17,167 household members to provide essential RMNCAH education and services |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Leveraging mHealth for RMNCAH training of CHWs is a game-changer for community health education and service delivery. This innovative approach broadens access to vital knowledge, deepens community engagement, and enables timely, targeted interventions, significantly contributing to health equity and the reduction of maternal and child illness and death. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Waida Ramadhani 1. Amref Health Africa in Tanzania Monica Bagaya Amref Health Africa Canada Jessica Trawin Amref Health Africa Canada Manjula Alles Amref Health Africa Canada Serafina Mkuwa 1. Amref Health Africa in Tanzania |
