Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of community health extension workers to treat hypertension associated with pregnancy: An analysis of post-intervention findings
This brief reports on a study that tested the feasibility of tasking community health extension workers (CHEWs) with detecting and managing hypertension, and prescribing an oral antihypertensive drug at primary health care (PHC) facilities in Nigeria as part of a package of care for women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). This evaluation measured improvements in knowledge retention and increases in early detection, prevention, and management of PE/E. Findings indicate that trained CHEWs working at intervention PHCs can correctly identify, differentiate, and manage normal, mild, moderate, and severe hypertension. These findings are important contributions to implementing Nigeria’s national task-shifting policy at the local level. Training and mentoring CHEWs to detect and manage PE/E at the local level will improve access to life-saving care for women, their families, and their communities, and will contribute to stronger health systems and improved maternal health outcomes in Nigeria
