about

The Eastern Cape Supervision Study is an evaluation of how to best supervise and support government-appointed Community Health Workers. 37 community health workers at eight clinics surrounding Zithulele Hospital are involved in the study. All received training by the Philani Mentor Mothers program and half (i.e. those in the intervention arm) are receiving ongoing training and support from two supervisors. The goal for this program is to empower the Community Health Workers to offer support to pregnant mothers, improve birth outcomes, and to identify and rehabilitate underweight children in the communities in which they work. 

Training  &  Supervision

All Community Health Workers in this study received six weeks of training using the Philani Mentor Mothers training programme. Specific topics include counseling and communication skills, HIV/AIDS, TB, reproductive health, antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, infant feeding, and child health. The community health workers were encouraged to learn practical skills for identifying sick mothers and babies and work through difficult scenarios. In the ECSS intervention group, two supervisors support the community health workers in the field once every two weeks and each month these community health workers meet to report on challenges they are facing and receive additional training.
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