Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare
BackgroundThe aim of this narrative review is to examine a WHO-compliant program that prepares Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low-resource environments. The intended outcome of the training is to enhance healthcare access and address health equity disparities. We examined the program’s curriculu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1504490/full |
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| author | Maryam Othman Gary W. Selnow |
| author_facet | Maryam Othman Gary W. Selnow |
| author_sort | Maryam Othman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe aim of this narrative review is to examine a WHO-compliant program that prepares Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low-resource environments. The intended outcome of the training is to enhance healthcare access and address health equity disparities. We examined the program’s curriculum, instructional methods, and a complementary continuing medical education (CME) program designed to sustain CHWs’ knowledge and skills.MethodologyWe review, in detail, the CHW training program—its curriculum, delivery, and implementation—launched prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing today. This program develops critical human resources to expand the reach of overburdened healthcare professionals in disproportionately affected regions.ResultsOur review highlights the positive impact of this program on marginalized communities. We propose the adoption of its curriculum and pedagogical framework by local leaders seeking to train teams of well-prepared CHWs to improve healthcare and bridge the gap between communities and medical professionals. This no-cost program is accessible even to the most under-resourced settings.ConclusionThe program examined in this paper offers small, disproportionately affected communities a valuable opportunity to implement a program that equips CHWs to provide essential clinical services and conduct community-wide health education initiatives. These CHWs serve as vital bridges between their communities and the professional medical system. Their demonstrated effectiveness in serving the health needs of their communities, even during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, is noteworthy. When called for, they can support refugees fleeing war and climate pressures by offering basic clinical care and prevention training. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07d44a1ec24d4e01914054b3401800b8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-07d44a1ec24d4e01914054b3401800b82025-08-20T02:09:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15044901504490Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcareMaryam Othman0Gary W. Selnow1Department of Population Health Science, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United StatesIndependent Researcher, San Francisco, CA, United StatesBackgroundThe aim of this narrative review is to examine a WHO-compliant program that prepares Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low-resource environments. The intended outcome of the training is to enhance healthcare access and address health equity disparities. We examined the program’s curriculum, instructional methods, and a complementary continuing medical education (CME) program designed to sustain CHWs’ knowledge and skills.MethodologyWe review, in detail, the CHW training program—its curriculum, delivery, and implementation—launched prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing today. This program develops critical human resources to expand the reach of overburdened healthcare professionals in disproportionately affected regions.ResultsOur review highlights the positive impact of this program on marginalized communities. We propose the adoption of its curriculum and pedagogical framework by local leaders seeking to train teams of well-prepared CHWs to improve healthcare and bridge the gap between communities and medical professionals. This no-cost program is accessible even to the most under-resourced settings.ConclusionThe program examined in this paper offers small, disproportionately affected communities a valuable opportunity to implement a program that equips CHWs to provide essential clinical services and conduct community-wide health education initiatives. These CHWs serve as vital bridges between their communities and the professional medical system. Their demonstrated effectiveness in serving the health needs of their communities, even during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, is noteworthy. When called for, they can support refugees fleeing war and climate pressures by offering basic clinical care and prevention training.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1504490/fullcost-free community health worker traininglow-resource community health preparednessclosing healthcare equity gaponline and downloadable free CHW training curriculumlocal health worker educationfree CHW continuing medical education program |
| spellingShingle | Maryam Othman Gary W. Selnow Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare Frontiers in Public Health cost-free community health worker training low-resource community health preparedness closing healthcare equity gap online and downloadable free CHW training curriculum local health worker education free CHW continuing medical education program |
| title | Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| title_full | Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| title_fullStr | Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| title_short | Community health workers: a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low-income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| title_sort | community health workers a narrative review of a curriculum and training program for low income communities facing limited access to healthcare |
| topic | cost-free community health worker training low-resource community health preparedness closing healthcare equity gap online and downloadable free CHW training curriculum local health worker education free CHW continuing medical education program |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1504490/full |
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