scholarly journals Means, Motives and Opportunity: determinants of community health worker performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. e001790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna John ◽  
Thomas Newton-Lewis ◽  
Shuchi Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Worker Performance ◽  
Performance Problem ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Job Role

The performance of community health workers (CHWs) typically depends on the interaction between their motivation (their intent to achieve personal and organisational goals) and the constraints that they face in doing so. These constraints can be both at the individual level, for example, whether the worker has the skills and knowledge required to deliver on their job role, and the organisational level, for example, whether the worker is provided with the resources required to perform. Designing interventions to improve the performance of CHWs requires identifying the constraints to performance in a particular context. Existing frameworks on CHW performance tend to be derived empirically, identifying a broad range of intervention design and contextual factors that have been shown to influence CHW performance. These may not always be able to guide policy makers to identify the precise cause of a specific performance problem in a particular context and develop an appropriate policy response. This article presents a framework to help practitioners and researchers diagnose the constraints to performance of CHWs and guide programmatic and policy responses. The Means, Motives and Opportunity (MMO) framework has been adapted from the SaniFOAM framework used to identify the determinants of sanitation behaviours. It is based on three interdependent and interacting domains: means (whether an individual is capable of performing), motives (whether an individual wants to perform) and opportunity (whether the individual has the chance to perform). A wide range of data sources are expected to be used when applying the MMO framework, especially qualitative research that captures the perspectives and lived realities of CHWs and their communities. In this article, we demonstrate how the MMO framework can be applied to identify the constraints to CHW performance using the case study of Anganwadi Workers (village nutrition workers) in Bihar, India.

scholarly journals The influence of incentives on community health worker motivation in the provision of family planning. A case of Msalala and Shinyanga Districts, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryse Kok ◽  
Scholastica Lucas ◽  
Josiah Otege ◽  
Zando Mkwazu ◽  
Ingrid Zuleta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Depth Interviews

Community health workers (CHWs) are essential in the provision of a wide range of services, including family planning. In Tanzania, deployment of CHWs has largely been supported by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who often determine their incentives. A mix of incentives is required to increase CHW motivation and, ultimately, performance. This qualitative study aimed to explore how incentives influence CHW motivation in the provision of family planning services in Msalala and Shinyanga districts. The study included focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 21 CHWs, 12 supervisors and eight policy makers and NGO representatives. Transcripts were coded and narratives were written on types of incentives, motivating and demotivating factors. The study revealed that although CHW motivation was related to feelings of accomplishment and respect from the community, financial incentives were found equally important for motivation. While most CHWs received non-financial incentives, CHWs had unequal access to financial incentives. Key informants confirmed that there was no coordination on incentives at district level. Some CHWs reported demotivation because of misconceptions and unacceptance of family planning in the community and irregular supply of contraceptives. Results from this study show that motivation of voluntary CHWs in Msalala and Shinyanga districts is currently sub-optimal, because of inequity in access to (financial) incentives. There is a need for better coordination and standardization of CHW incentives. Advocacy is needed to increase funding for CHWs’ deployment and remuneration. This would increase CHW motimotivation and ultimately performance, also in the field of family planning.

scholarly journals A Tale of Odds and Ratios: Political Preference Formation in Postindustrial Democracies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Wineroither ◽  
Rudolf Metz
Keyword(s):  
Social Stratification ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Preference Formation ◽  
Political Preference ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThis report surveys four approaches that are pivotal to the study of preference formation: (a) the range, validity, and theoretical foundations of explanations of political preferences at the individual and mass levels, (b) the exploration of key objects of preference formation attached to the democratic political process (i.e., voting in competitive elections), (c) the top-down vs. bottom-up character of preference formation as addressed in leader–follower studies, and (d) gene–environment interaction and the explanatory weight of genetic predisposition against the cumulative weight of social experiences.In recent years, our understanding of sites and processes of (individual) political-preference formation has substantially improved. First, this applies to a greater variety of objects that provide fresh insight into the functioning and stability of contemporary democracy. Second, we observe the reaffirmation of pivotal theories and key concepts in adapted form against widespread challenge. This applies to the role played by social stratification, group awareness, and individual-level economic considerations. Most of these findings converge in recognising economics-based explanations. Third, research into gene–environment interplay rapidly increases the number of testable hypotheses and promises to benefit a wide range of approaches already taken and advanced in the study of political-preference formation.

Culture’s Constraints

2018 ◽  
pp. 61-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele J. Gelfand ◽  
Nava Caluori ◽  
Sarah Gordon ◽  
Jana Raver ◽  
Lisa Nishii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Psychological Processes ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Societal Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cultural Processes ◽  
The Individual

Research on culture has generally ignored social situations, and research on social situations has generally ignored culture. In bringing together these two traditions, we show that nations vary considerably in the strength of social situations, and this is a key conceptual and empirical bridge between macro and distal cultural processes and micro and proximal psychological processes. The model thus illustrates some of the intervening mechanisms through which distal societal factors affect individual processes. It also helps to illuminate why cultural differences persist at the individual level, as they are adaptive to chronic differences in the strength of social situations. The strength of situations across cultures can provide new insights into cultural differences in a wide range of psychological processes.

Parasitic infection and chronic energy deficiency in adults

Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (S1) ◽  
pp. S159-S167 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Shetty ◽  
N. Shetty
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Energy Deficiency ◽  
Chronic Energy Deficiency ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Relationship Of

Interactions between infection and nutrition have been well recognized for several years now since they contribute directly to the health of individuals and communities. Malnourished individuals are specially prone to developing infections while infections themselves can lead to profound changes in the nutritional status of the individual. Health workers in developing countries in the tropics have long recognized the mutually aggravating interactions of malnutrition and infection. The importance of this synergistic relationship between infection and nu-tritional status has been studied extensively in the case of young children. The nutritional status of a young child is a critical determinant of both c morbidity and mortality resulting from a wide range of infections: bacterial, viral, or parasitic. Chandra (1983), in his review on the relationship of nutrition, immunity and infection has categorized the wide range of infectious agents (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic) into those that are definitely, variably or minimally influenced by the nutritional status of the child.

scholarly journals Case Study in Designing a Research Fundamentals Curriculum for Community Health Workers

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-85
Author(s):  
Jill Dumbauld ◽  
Michael Kalichman ◽  
Yvonne Bell ◽  
Cynthia Dagnino ◽  
Howard L. Taras
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers

scholarly journals Understanding permaculturist motivations among residents of the “PermaKulturRaum” in Goettingen, Germany: a qualitative analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinrich Petri ◽  
Heiko Faust
Keyword(s):  
Global Scale ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Behavioral Determinants ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Micro Scale ◽  
The Core ◽  
Behavioral Studies ◽  
The Individual

AbstractBy using an inductive qualitative approach, investigating the micro scale, that is, the individual level, we conducted a case study on the PermaKulturRaum in Goettingen, Germany—an experimental space for students to explore alternative lifedesigns. On the supposition that only a radical transition can achieve sustainability on a global scale, we identified permaculture as an appropriate method to achieve this. However, permaculture is not widely spread and largely ignored by scientific research. We started a first attempt to understand the underlying motivations of permaculturists. Using behavioral studies as our theoretical framework, we found out that behavioral determinants, like biospheric values, green-identity, and the intention to act green were extraordinarily high and that the core of their pro-environmental behavior is most likely their strong intrinsic motivation. Regarding the PermaKulturRaum, we could formulate following theses: (1) a comprehensive implementation of permacultural aspects requires an urge for an alternative lifedesign, (2) a radical lifedesign attracts primarily like-minded people, which creates isolated spaces, (3) early childhood experiences or single key moments are important to trigger a pro-environmental interest.

Assessing the Potential Extent of Carsharing

2005 ◽  
Vol 1927 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D. Schuster ◽  
John Byrne ◽  
James Corbett ◽  
Yda Schreuder
Keyword(s):  
Travel Behavior ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Policy Tool ◽  
Interest Policy ◽  
Sound Policy ◽  
The Individual

Members of carsharing organizations reduce both the number of vehicles owned and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Given these benefits at the individual level, carsharing may interest policy makers as another tool to address the negative environmental, economic, and social consequences of automobile dependence. However, the aggregate effects of carsharing must be estimated before sound policy decisions can be made. This paper describes a Monte Carlo simulation of the economic decision to own or share a vehicle on the basis of major cost components and past vehicle use. The simulation estimates the percentage of vehicles that would be cheaper to share than own. In Baltimore, Maryland, this result ranged from 4.2% under a traditional neighborhood carsharing model to 14.8% in a commuter-based carsharing model. Sensitivity analyses identified travel time and VMT as the most important economic factors, which likely incorporate other factors such as transit access and environmental attitudes. Because travel behavior, not ownership cost, drives the economic carsharing decision, the model hypothesizes that there will be increasing marginal societal benefits from policies that promote carsharing. The model can be applied to any geographic area and can be used to assess carsharing impacts of various policies that change the economics of owning or driving an auto. These results indicate that carsharing can become prevalent enough to be considered an important policy tool.

scholarly journals Report-back for geo-referenced environmental data: A case study on personal monitoring of temperature in outdoor workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Thompson ◽  
Maggie Sugg ◽  
Jennifer Runkle
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Time Activity ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Behavioural Modification ◽  
The Individual

Few studies have evaluated the benefits of reporting back participatory environmental monitoring results, particularly regarding participant motivation toward behavioural modification concerning workplace heat exposure. This study evaluated the individual data report-back for geo-located environmental temperature and time activity patterns in grounds maintenance crews in three geographic regions across the South-eastern United States. Surveys collected information on worker interpretation of their results and intended action(s) to reduce heat exposure. Worker response was highly positive, especially among more experienced workers who expressed a greater willingness to modify personal behaviour to reduce heat stress. Individual-level report-back of environmental data is a powerful tool for individuals to understand and act on their personal exposure to heat.

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