BackgroundLike any other health worker, community health workers (CHWs) need to be supported to ensure that they are able to contribute effectively to health programmes. Management challenges, similar to those of managing any other health worker, relate to improving attraction, retention and performance.MethodsExploratory case studies of CHW programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe were conducted to provide an understanding of the practices for supporting and managing CHWs from a multi-actor perspective. Document reviews (n = 43), in-depth interviews with programme managers, supervisors and community members involved in managing CHWs (n = 31) and focus group discussions with CHWs (n = 13) were conducted across the five countries. Data were transcribed, translated and analysed using the framework approach.ResultsCHWs had many expectations of their role in healthcare, including serving the community, enhancing skills, receiving financial benefits and their role as a CHW fitting in with their other responsibilities. Many human resource management (HRM) practices are employed, but how well they are implemented, the degree to which they meet the expectations of the CHWs and their effects on human resource (HR) outcomes vary across contexts. Front-line supervisors, such as health centre nurses and senior CHWs, play a major role in the management of CHWs and are central to the implementation of HRM practices. On the other hand, community members and programme managers have little involvement with managing the CHWs.ConclusionsThis study highlighted that CHW expectations are not always met through HRM practices. This paper calls for a coordinated HRM approach to support CHWs, whereby HRM practices are designed to not only address expectations but also ensure that the CHW programme meets its goals. There is a need to work with all three groups of management actors (front-line supervisors, programme managers and community members) to ensure the use of an effective HRM approach. A larger multi-country study is needed to test an HRM approach that integrates context-appropriate strategies and coordinates relevant management actors. Ensuring that CHWs are adequately supported is vital if CHWs are to fulfil the critical role that they can play in improving the health of their communities.

Background Senegal has been an exemplar country in the West African region, reducing child stunting prevalence by 17.9% from 1992 to 2017. Objectives In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic in-depth assessment of factors at the national, community, household, and individual levels to determine the key enablers of Senegal's success in reducing stunting in children <5 y old between 1992/93 and 2017. Methods A mixed methods approach was implemented, comprising quantitative data analysis, a systematic literature review, creation of a timeline of nutrition-related programs, and qualitative interviews with national and regional stakeholders and mothers in communities. Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys were used to explore stunting inequalities and factors related to the change in height-for-age z-score (HAZ) using difference-in-difference linear regression and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method. Results Population-wide gains in average child HAZ and stunting prevalence have occurred from 1992/93 to 2017. Stunting prevalence reduction varied by geographical region and prevalence gaps were reduced slightly between wealth quintiles, maternal education groups, and urban compared with rural residence. Statistical determinants of change included improvements in maternal and newborn health (27.8%), economic improvement (19.5%), increases in parental education (14.9%), and better piped water access (8.1%). Key effective nutrition programs used a community-based approach, including the Community Nutrition Program and the Nutrition Enhancement Program. Stakeholders felt sustained political will and multisectoral collaboration along with improvements in poverty, women's education, hygiene practices, and accessibility to health services at the community level reduced the burden of stunting. Conclusions Senegal's success in the stunting decline is largely attributed to the country's political stability, the government's prioritization of nutrition and execution of nutrition efforts using a multisectoral approach, improvements in the availability of health services and maternal education, access to piped water and sanitation facilities, and poverty reduction. Further efforts in the health, water and sanitation, and agriculture sectors will support continued success.

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Abstract Almost all pregnant women in Senegal receive some antenatal care (ANC), yet only around half receive four or more visits and provision of education and counselling during ANC is often inadequate and, in some cases, non-existent. This results in missed opportunities to provide support and to counsel women regarding appropriate care-seeking practices and health behaviours during pregnancy and across the continuum of care. This pilot effectiveness–implementation randomized controlled trial explored whether group ANC (G-ANC), a model that integrates standard individual pregnancy care with facilitated participatory group education activities and peer support, could potentially address some of these challenges. The G-ANC model adapted for Senegal builds on local healthcare delivery systems and aligns with World Health Organization recommendations for a shift towards women-centred models of maternity services. It was implemented at the health post level, and a total of 330 pregnant women participated in the study, of whom 85% were followed up at 6–10 weeks post-delivery. We assessed implementation outcomes (e.g. acceptability, cost) to establish the feasibility of the model in Senegal and explored effectiveness outcomes related to maternal and infant health for the planning of a large-scale trial. Results indicate that women and ANC providers were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the G-ANC model, and exploratory analyses suggested improvements in exclusive breastfeeding, intention to use family planning, birth preparations and knowledge around maternal and newborn danger signs. This article provides timely and relevant evidence on the feasibility of G-ANC as an alternative model of care during pregnancy and a solid basis for recommending the conduct of a large-scale implementation study of G-ANC in Senegal.

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