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Bibliographic Info

GuidelineWHO recommendations: optimizing health worker roles to improve access to key maternal and newborn health interventions through task shifting
Year of Publication2012
Issuing InstitutionWHO

Recommendation

Status
Maintained

We recommend the use of LAY HEALTH WORKERS to deliver the following interventions, with targeted monitoring and evaluation:

  • Distribution of the following oral supplement type

interventions to pregnant women: » Calcium supplementation for women living in areas with known low levels of calcium intake » Routine iron and folate supplementation for pregnant women » Intermittent presumptive therapy for malaria for pregnant women living in endemic areas » Vitamin A supplementation for pregnant women living in areas where severe vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem

Notes and Remarks

Planners need to consider a number of issues related to task sharing and the expansion of LHW responsibilities. These include the distribution of roles among cadres, regulatory issues, stakeholder involvement, training and supervision, systems for referral, supply chains, and possible changes to payments or other incentives

Also Featured In

This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:

Guideline

WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience.

Year2022
InstitutionWorld Health Organization
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