Dear HIFA colleagues,
With thanks to Community Health Impact Coalition.
Previous HIFA discussions around the information and learning needs of community health workers identified the need for a taxonomy of CHWs.
This new paper takes us a step closer: 'A Proposed Taxonomy for Community Health Workers: Standardizing Terminology for International Comparisons'
Study aims: To develop a standardized taxonomy for CHWs and other front-line health workers to improve clarity in policy discussions, program comparisons, and health workforce planning at the international level.
Methods: A synthesis of evidence from CHW program case studies across 29 countries, reviewed WHO and ILO classifications, and incorporated stakeholder consultations, including a modified Delphi process, to refine CHW categorization and propose a new taxonomy.
Key messages:
• The term "CHW" is used inconsistently worldwide, encompassing diverse roles, training levels, and employment statuses. A clearer taxonomy can facilitate more accurate comparisons across programs.
• CHWs can be classified into five categories—formally employed CHWs, regular service delivery CHWs (not formally employed), intermediate CHWs, episodic/occasional CHWs, and those engaged in community governance. This classification considers their level of training, employment status, and integration into government health systems.
• Governments and global health organizations should shift from focusing on job titles to defining CHWs based on their tasks, level of engagement, and system integration to inform policy, workforce planning, and health system strengthening.
Policy Recommendations:
• Governments should define CHWs by their tasks rather than job titles to improve planning, workforce integration, and program evaluation.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) should update CHW classifications to include their growing role in clinical and curative care, particularly in LMICs.
• Governments should consider transitioning regular service delivery CHWs (not formally employed) to formal employment, with improved remuneration, supervision, career progression, and integration into health workforce management.
Read the full study here. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11801544/
HIFA Project on CHWs:
https://www.hifa.org/projects/community-health-workers
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org