Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Advance Access
    • Archive
    • Supplements
    • Special Collections
    • Topic Collections
  • For Authors
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Tips for Writing About Programs in GHSP
      • Local Voices Webinar
      • Connecting Creators and Users of Knowledge
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Publish a Supplement
    • Promote Your Article
    • Resources for Writing Journal Articles
  • About
    • About GHSP
    • Editorial Team
    • Advisory Board
    • FAQs
    • Instructions for Reviewers

User menu

  • My Alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Global Health: Science and Practice
  • My Alerts

Global Health: Science and Practice

Dedicated to what works in global health programs

Advanced Search

  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Advance Access
    • Archive
    • Supplements
    • Special Collections
    • Topic Collections
  • For Authors
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Tips for Writing About Programs in GHSP
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Publish a Supplement
    • Promote Your Article
    • Resources for Writing Journal Articles
  • About
    • About GHSP
    • Editorial Team
    • Advisory Board
    • FAQs
    • Instructions for Reviewers
  • Alerts
  • Find GHSP on LinkedIn
  • Visit GHSP on Facebook
  • RSS
Original Articles
Open Access

Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs

Aurélie Brunie, Patricia Wamala-Mucheri, Conrad Otterness, Angela Akol, Mario Chen, Leonard Bufumbo and Mark Weaver
Global Health: Science and Practice February 2014, 2(1):103-116; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-13-00140
Aurélie Brunie
aFHI 360, Washington, DC, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: abrunie{at}fhi360.org
Patricia Wamala-Mucheri
bFHI 360, Kampala, Uganda. Now with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Kampala, Uganda
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Conrad Otterness
cFHI 360, Durham, NC, USA. Now with Community Partners International, Mae Sot, Thailand
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Angela Akol
dFHI 360, Kampala, Uganda
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mario Chen
eFHI 360, Durham, NC, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Leonard Bufumbo
dFHI 360, Kampala, Uganda
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mark Weaver
fFHI 360, Durham, NC, USA. Now with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
PreviousNext
  • Article
  • Figures & Tables
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments
  • PDF
Loading

Figures & Tables

Tables

    • View popup
    TABLE 1. Program Inputs and Levels Used in the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE)
    Program InputsLevel 1Level 2Level 3
    Training5-day initial training and 3-day supervised practicum at health centerSame as Level 1 + 3-day refresher training once a yearN/A
    SupervisionMonthly CHW meetings at health centerSame as Level 1 + quarterly visit by health center staff in the communityN/A
    IncentivesCHW kit with gumboots, raincoat, job aids, and stationeryCHW kit + T-shirt + badgeCHW kit + T-shirt + badge + bicycle
    Transportation refund5,000 UGX for each meeting10,000 UGX for each meetingN/A
    CommunicationNo mobile phoneMobile phone without airtimeN/A
    • Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; N/A, not applicable; UGX, Ugandan Shilling.

    • View popup
    TABLE 2. Program Characteristics and Number of Interviews Conducted, by Program Type
    Active CHWsFormer CHWs
    Program TypeNo. of SurveysaNo. of IDIsTotal No. Interviewed/ Total No. in ProgramNo. of IDIs
    Public sector (2 districts)351348/483
    Former NGO (3 districts)821496/1120
    NGO (2 districts)661682/2032
    Total18343226/3635
    • Abbreviations: CHWs, community health workers; IDIs, in-depth interviews; NGO, nongovernmental organization.

    • ↵a Surveys included a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE).

    • View popup
    TABLE 3. Item Means, Grouped by Factor, by CHW Level of Activity
    Total (N = 183)Highly Active (n = 88)Less Active (n = 69)
    Motivational Outcomes
    Overall, I am very satisfied with being an FP CHW.3.783.733.85
    I would recommend to my children that they become CHWs.3.503.573.48
    I am glad to be working as an FP CHW rather than in some other volunteer position in the community.3.203.133.40
    I feel very little commitment to the FP CHW program.a1.351.391.33
    I enjoy working in my community to make it better, even if it is without pay.3.773.813.74
    I do not think that it makes good sense to spend any time working in my community without payment.a1.551.461.57
    I have no intention to keep doing my FP CHW work without pay.a1.421.361.40
    Motivational Determinants
    Barriers
    My FP CHW work takes so much time that I am worried about how to support myself and my family.a2.132.032.07
    My family complains about the demands of my FP CHW work.a1.531.651.39
    Serving as an FP CHW will not help my chances of getting a better job in the future.a1.451.511.47
    Talking about FP with my clients is very embarrassing.a1.271.241.33
    It is difficult to help clients find the method that is right for them.a1.541.371.59
    Contraceptive use often makes people sick.a2.162.212.05
    Facilitators
    Overall, my supervisors provide helpful feedback and support.3.773.723.74
    I can probably perform most of my activities without additional training.2.512.502.58
    The FP CHW program provides all the equipment and material I need to do my job well.3.193.123.35
    It is easy to find women who are interested in receiving an FP method in this community.3.673.643.75
    • Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; FP, family planning.

    • Level of activity of CHWs was based on data from service statistics, which were available for 157 CHWs.

    • Items were scored from 1 = “Disagree a lot” to 4 = “Agree a lot.” Nonresponses varied across items. Weighted means are reported.

    • ↵a Item was reverse-scored before factor analysis.

    • View popup
    TABLE 4. Selected Characteristics of Survey Respondents, by Level of Activity
    CharacteristicsTotalHighly ActiveLess ActiveP Value
    (N = 183)(n = 88)(n = 69)
    Age, y, mean (SE)41.3 (0.8)41.1 (1.1)40.9 (1.2).89
    No. of living children, mean (SE)5.5 (0.2)5.2 (0.2)6.0 (0.5).23
    Education, %
     Primary27.426.137.4.17
     Secondary or higher72.673.962.6
    Sex, %
     Female49.859.148.8.47
     Male50.240.951.2
    No. of years as an FP CHW, mean (SE)5.6 (0.4)5.5 (0.4)5.3 (0.4).83
    Provides other services besides FP, %
     No7.34.89.4.31
     Yes92.795.290.6
    Prior volunteer experience, %
     No10.912.25.3.05
     Yes89.187.894.7
    Received refresher training in past year, %
     No26.127.232.9.50
     Yes73.972.867.1
    Ever received supervision from HC staff, %
     Never34.039.436.7.82
     Ever66.060.963.3
    Received supervisory visits in community in the past year, %
     No41.336.050.8.23
     Yes58.764.049.2
    Problems with supplies, %
     No36.126.741.2.01
     Yes63.973.358.8
    Received recognition/support from community in the past year, %
     No10.910.012.0.75
     Yes89.190.088.0
    Received incentive from NGO or district in the past year, %
     No46.245.247.4.81
     Yes53.854.852.3
    Collaboration with other CHWs, %
     No37.146.824.7.03
     Yes62.953.275.3
    Time to HC, h, mean (SE)1.2 (0.1)1.3 (0.1)1.3 (0.1).88
    Motivation, mean (SE)-0.08 (0.1)-0.05 (0.1)-0.04 (0.1).95
    Barriers, mean (SE)-0.05 (0.1)-0.04 (0.1)-0.04 (0.1).96
    Facilitators, mean (SE)-0.02 (0.1)-0.05 (0.1)0.07 (0.1).41
    • Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; FP, family planning; HC, health center; NGO, nongovernmental organization; SE, standard error.

    • Level of activity of CHWs was based on data from service statistics, which were available for 157 CHWs.

    • Nonresponses varied across items. Weighted percentages and means are reported.

    • View popup
    TABLE 5. Factors Associated With CHW Level of Activity in Logistic Regression Analysis (N = 156)
    CharacteristicsaOdds Ratio (95% CI)
    Demographic
     Maleb0.63 (0.23–1.76)
     Secondary or higher educationb2.30 (0.75–7.01)
     Age, y1.04 (0.99–1.08)
    Situational
     Prior volunteer experienceb0.67 (0.26–1.72)
     Travel time to health center, h0.98 (0.68–1.43)
    Work
     Problems with suppliesb2.22 (1.32–3.75)
     Collaboration with other CHWsb0.33 (0.13–0.86)
    Motivational outcomes and determinants
     Motivation1.25 (0.70–2.23)
     Barriers1.07 (0.67–1.72)
     Facilitators0.67 (0.40–1.14)
    • Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; CI, confidence interval.

    • ↵a Control variables were education, sex, age, time to health center, motivation, barriers, and facilitators.

    • ↵b Indicator variable. For male/sex, the reference is female. For education, the reference is primary education. Other variables are yes/no binary variables, with “no” as the reference level.

    • View popup
    TABLE 6. Mixed Logit Model Results for Program Inputs Influencing CHW Preferences in the Discrete Choice Experiment (N = 182)
    Program InputModel Coefficients
    Mean Estimate (SE)Standard Deviation Estimate (SE)
    T-shirt, badge, and bicycle3.90a (1.41)1.24 (1.45)
    Mobile phone, no airtime0.99b (0.41)…
    10,000 UGX transport refund0.77b (0.35)1.06 (0.77)
    Yearly refresher training0.73b (0.34)1.22 (0.63)
    T-shirt and badge1.97 (1.02)1.51 (0.86)
    Quarterly supervisory visits in community0.70 (0.38)1.15 (0.70)
    • Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; SE, standard error; UGX, Ugandan Shilling.

    • Number of observations = 1,092.

    • ↵a P < .01.

    • ↵b P < .05.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Global Health: Science and Practice: 2 (1)
Global Health: Science and Practice
Vol. 2, No. 1
February 01, 2014
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by Author
  • Complete Issue (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about Global Health: Science and Practice.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Global Health: Science and Practice
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the Global Health: Science and Practice web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs
Aurélie Brunie, Patricia Wamala-Mucheri, Conrad Otterness, Angela Akol, Mario Chen, Leonard Bufumbo, Mark Weaver
Global Health: Science and Practice Feb 2014, 2 (1) 103-116; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-13-00140

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Keeping community health workers in Uganda motivated: key challenges, facilitators, and preferred program inputs
Aurélie Brunie, Patricia Wamala-Mucheri, Conrad Otterness, Angela Akol, Mario Chen, Leonard Bufumbo, Mark Weaver
Global Health: Science and Practice Feb 2014, 2 (1) 103-116; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-13-00140
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • INTRODUCTION
    • METHODS
    • RESULTS
    • DISCUSSION
    • CONCLUSION
    • Acknowledgments
    • Notes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Tables
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Motivation and associated factors of health development army in the implementation of health extension packages in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
  • The building blocks of community health systems: a systems framework for the design, implementation and evaluation of iCCM programs and community-based interventions
  • Beyond Institutionalization: Planning for Sustained Investments in Training, Supervision, and Support of Community Health Worker Programs in Bangladesh
  • Enhancing Performance and Sustainability of Community Health Worker Programs in Uganda: Lessons and Experiences From Stakeholders
  • Incentive preferences for community health volunteers in Kenya: findings from a discrete choice experiment
  • Practical Implications of Policy Guidelines: A GIS Model of the Deployment of Community Health Volunteers in Madagascar
  • Panacea or pitfall? The introduction of community health extension workers in Uganda
  • Prevalence, incidence and predictors of volunteer community health worker attrition in Kwale County, Kenya
  • Qualitative Assessment of the Application of a Discrete Choice Experiment With Community Health Workers in Uganda: Aligning Incentives With Preferences
  • Enhancing the Supervision of Community Health Workers With WhatsApp Mobile Messaging: Qualitative Findings From 2 Low-Resource Settings in Kenya
  • Feasibility and Effectiveness of mHealth for Mobilizing Households for Indoor Residual Spraying to Prevent Malaria: A Case Study in Mali
  • Female Health Workers at the Doorstep: A Pilot of Community-Based Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Service Delivery in Northern Nigeria
  • Cell phones and CHWs: a transformational marriage?
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Casting a Wide Net: HIV Drug Resistance Monitoring in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Seroconverters in the Global Evaluation of Microbicide Sensitivity Project
  • Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in Kigoma, Tanzania: A 13-Year Initiative
  • Human-Centered Design for Public Health Innovation: Codesigning a Multicomponent Intervention to Support Youth Across the HIV Care Continuum in Mozambique
Show more Original Articles

Similar Articles

Subjects

  • Cross-Cutting Topics
    • Health Workers
Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Follow Us On

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Articles

  • Current Issue
  • Advance Access Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Topic Collections
  • Most Read Articles
  • Supplements

More Information

  • Submit a Paper
  • Instructions for Authors
  • Instructions for Reviewers

About

  • About GHSP
  • Advisory Board
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2026 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. ISSN: 2169-575X

Powered by HighWire