The use of community health aides as perceived by their supervisors in Jamaica, West Indies (1987/88)

ABSTRACT

A research project funded by the Commonwealth Caribbean Medical Research Council (CCMRC) began in February 1987, to study aspects of the situation in connection with the 508 community health aides employed in the Government Service of Jamaica. This report deals specifically with the role of supervisors (public health nurses and midwives) in relation to community health aides (CHAs) employed in the government primary health care service, Jamaica. There were 77 supervisors interviewed, and questionnaires were returned from all four administrative health areas in Jamaica. The supervisors reported that they could supervise more CHAs in the community setting than in the clinic setting alone. In-service training was an integral part of CHA programme, and there was regular evaluation of the CHAs, with at least an annual evaluation in keeping with the policy of the agency. Resource persons from other sectors assist in continuing education programmes for the CHAs. The study outlines the main weaknesses and the strengths of the community health aide programme, and highlights the fact that CHA is a valuable member of the health team and does contribute significantly to primary health care (AU)