Recognizing the need for standardized training for community health workers (CHWs)

Abstract

Introduction Despite global improvements in maternal health, disparities in maternal mortality rates in the United States have worsened in recent years. Community health workers (CHWs) as maternal health educators have previously been studied in low‐ and middle‐income countries, however their use in the United States has been limited. Methodology To address the ongoing disparities in maternal mortality, we conducted a mixed methods pilot study consisting of discussion groups and a written survey with CHWs in two boroughs in NYC. The study's goal was to identify and explore CHW professional training, their daily tasks, and roles as well as their insights and perspectives regarding the needs of their pregnant clients. Results Eighteen CHWs participated in the discussion groups and 11 participated in the survey. Participants were predominantly Black and/or Latina. Key themes were very consistent across group discussion and survey data. Major themes were a lack of standardized training for CHWs on basic maternal health topics, the existence of racism and bias in the provision of care for Black and other minority individuals, along with pregnant peoples’ needs for support to better advocate to overcome systemic barriers. Conclusion This study suggests that targeted maternal health training of CHWs is needed to better enable them to identify pregnancy risks and advance health literacy and promote self‐advocacy among their pregnant clients. This will ultimately yield a more effective CHW workforce and better health outcomes for pregnant people.