Building the capacity of community health workers to support health and social care for dependent older people in Latin America: a pilot study in Fortaleza, Brazil

BMC Geriatrics

Karla Cristina Giacomin¹  Luciane Ponte de Melo²  Janaína de Souza Aredes³  João Bastos Freire Neto⁴  Gerídice Lorna Andrade de Moraes⁵  Lucas Sempe⁶  Peter Lloyd-Sherlock⁶ 

[1] Belo Horizonte Municipal Health Secretary, Minas Gerais, Brazil;Brazilian Alzheimer’s Association, Ceará, Brazil;Centre for Studies in Public Health and Aging, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz, Minas Gerais, Brazil;Fortaleza Municipal Health Secretary, Ceará, Brazil;Universidade Estadual do Ceará. Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Campus do Itaperi Fortaleza, CE (85) 31019800 / 3101-9795. CEP: 60.714.903, Fortaleza, Brazil;University of East Anglia, School of International Development, Norwich, UK;

关键词: Brazil;    Community health workers;    Training;    Older people;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02477-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundBrazil is seeing rapid population ageing, which is leading to new demands on primary health care services. There is a need to develop and assess the effectiveness of new interventions to build the capacity of staff, including community health workers, to meet the needs of groups such as care-dependent older people and their care-givers. This study examines the feasibility of a small training intervention piloted in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza.MethodsThe study evaluated participants’ own assessments of key knowledge and skills related to the needs of care-dependent older people, both before and after the training intervention. It also assessed their capacity to implement a simple screening tool of geriatric risk factors.ResultsThe participant self-assessments indicate significant improvements in their perceived knowledge and capacity in responding to the health needs of care-dependent older people. Additionally, participants were able to successfully conduct the home visits and screening for risk factors.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates the feasibility of developing interventions to enhance the capacity of community health workers to meet the needs of dependent older people in countries like Brazil. The evidence of effectiveness, though limited and subjective, provides justification for a larger, formally evaluated intervention. The experience of Fortaleza provides valuable lessons for other cities and countries in the region which are facing similar challenges.

【 授权许可】

CC BY