Characteristics of Community Health Workers in Nigeria and Ethiopia
| Nigerian CHWs | Ethiopian HEWs | Ethiopian HDA leaders | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | 5–6 days | 1 year | 15 days |
| Payment | Incentives for taking women to facilities and for referrals | Approximately $100/month | None |
| Selection criteria | Existing TBAs or FOMWAMs, no literacy requirement | Resident in the community, speaks local language, educated to 10th grade or above, willing to remain in the village and serve the community | Model family, trusted, able to mobilize communities; no literacy requirement |
| Scope of work | Specific to maternal and newborn health including delivering key behavior change messages, detection of and referral for maternal and newborn danger signs | Broad, including disease prevention and treatment | Broad, including assisting families in adopting behaviors, engaging in community mobilization, and leading participatory action cycles |
Abbreviations: CHW, community health worker; HDA, Health Development Army; HEW, health extension worker; FOMWAM, Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria; TBA, traditional birth attendant.