Physical rehabilitation delivery by community health workers: Views of the users and caregivers

Abstract

Background: Community health workers are crucial in providing health services at the community level. However, in Zambia, there are limited opportunities for formal physical rehabilitation training for community health workers, leading some to provide rehabilitation services without the necessary training.

Aim: This study sought to explore the experiences and perspectives of users and caregivers who receive physical rehabilitation services from community health workers without training in physical rehabilitation.

Setting: Matero, a sub-district of Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative approach using face-to-face, in-depth interviews was used to collect data from users and caregivers who receive physical rehabilitation services from untrained community health workers. The study included 12 participants, six service users and six primary caregivers. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Six themes emerged from the analysis, namely access to services, perceived skills and competence of community health workers, satisfaction with community health worker-delivered physical rehabilitation services, values and attitudes of community health workers, perceived unmet needs of community health worker-delivered physical rehabilitation services and impact of community health worker-delivered physical rehabilitation.

Conclusion: Physical rehabilitation rendered by community health workers positively impacted the users despite the gaps identified. Formalising training of community health workers in physical rehabilitation could enhance service coverage and improve the overall quality of care.

Contribution: The scientific contribution has been made by the views of users and caregivers regarding their experiences and perspectives of community health workers-delivered physical rehabilitation services without training.