The goal of a study published in the Journal of Global Health was to estimate the number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths and stillbirths that could be prevented if 73 countries effectively scaled up the population coverage of 30 evidence-based interventions that community health workers (CHWs) can deliver as part of community-based primary health care (CBPHC).

The Lives Saved Tool (LiST) estimated that a total of 3.0, 4.9 and 6.9 million deaths would be prevented between 2016 and 2020 if CBPHC is gradually scaled up during this period and if coverage of key interventions reaches 50%, 70% and 90% respectively. There would be 14%, 23%, and 32% fewer deaths in the final year compared to a scenario assuming no intervention coverage scale up. Moreover, the Africa Region would receive the most benefit – 58% of the lives saved at 90% coverage would be in this region. The interventions contributing the greatest impact were – nutritional interventions during pregnancy, treatment of malaria with artemisinin compounds, oral rehydration solution for childhood diarrhea, hand washing with soap and oral antibiotics for pneumonia.

It was inferred that scaling up CHW programming to increase population-level coverage of life-saving interventions represents a very promising strategy to achieve universal health coverage and end preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030. Expanding the coverage of key interventions for maternal nutrition and treatment of childhood illnesses, may produce the greatest gains. 

Source: 2017 Dec;7(2):020401.doi: 10.7189/jogh.07.020401.