Article

The role of community health workers in the re-engineering of primary health care in rural Eastern Cape

Published in: South African Family Practice
Volume 57 , issue 2 , 2015 , pages: 116–120

DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2014.977063

Author(s): Karl le Roux Zithulele Hospital, South Africa , Ingrid M le Roux Philani Maternal, South Africa , Nokwanele Mbewu Philani Maternal, South Africa , Emily Davis Semel Institute and the Department of Psychiatry, USA

Keywords: community health workers (CHW) , HIV , malnutrition , Philani Mentor Mothers , pregnant mothers , re-engineering , primary health care , rural health care systems , South Africa , tuberculosis

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Abstract

Background: Primary Health Care in South Africa is being re-engineered to create a model of integrated care across different levels of the health care system. From hospitals to clinics, in the community and in the home, health care will focus more on prevention, health promotion, and advocacy for healthy lifestyles and well-being, in addition to clinical services. We provide a best-practice model of integrating community health workers (CHWs) trained as generalists into a multi-level health system in the Oliver Tambo district of the rural Eastern Cape.

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