Community Factors Facilitating or Hampering Service Delivery of Lady Health Workers: Views and Experiences of Beneficiaries

Abstract

The community level factors are essential to consider for the improved performance of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in service delivery, including community acceptance of CHWs and support of local health care institutions. The CHW acts as a connection between the community and the healthcare system, and by serving in this role, CHWs greatly improve the health condition of community members. Locally known as Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in Pakistan, Community Health Workers are women who offer maternity and pediatric healthcare at the community scale. The current study's objective was to investigate which community circumstances influence the performance of LHWs in service delivery. A quantitative research method was utilized to achieve the objective with the social ecology model acting as the theoretical base. Respondents of the study were from 398 households in the Lahore District and were in the age group of 15 to 49 years. An interview schedule was employed as the tool for gathering data, and participants were selected using a proportional systematic random sample. The study discovered a strong relationship between beneficiaries' use of LHW services and community factors. Based on these findings, it is suggested that community level factors be improved or strengthened to enhance LHWs' performance for offering services.