The Knowledge library

Technical Reports

Use of an Interactive Voice Response System to Deliver Refresher Training in Senegal: Findings from Pilot Implementation and Assessment

March 2015 by Kate E. Gilroy, Abdoulaye Diedhiou, Carie Muntifering Cox, Luke Duncan, Djim Koumtingue, Sara Pacqué-Margolis, Alfredo Fort, Dykki Settle, and Rebecca Bailey
application/pdf iconUse of an Interactive Voice Response System to Deliver Refresher Training in Senegal

In-service training reinforces and updates health workers’ knowledge, but it is often expensive and requires providers to leave their posts. Interactive voice response (IVR) is a technology—possible with any type of phone—that delivers information via audio recordings and allows users to provide feedback by pressing a number key. CapacityPlus developed, deployed, and assessed an innovative mLearning system that used a combination of IVR and SMS text messaging to deliver refresher training to family planning providers in Senegal, focusing on management of contraceptive side effects and counseling to dispel misconceptions. The pilot application among 20 midwives, nurses, nursing assistants, and health agents took place in two districts in Thiès Region of Senegal. Evaluation findings showed that an mLearning system that delivers refresher training to family planning providers via simple mobile phones using IVR and SMS text is appropriate, feasible, acceptable, and associated with sustained gains in knowledge.

TAGS: Evaluation, Family Planning, In-Service Training, Interactive Voice Response, mLearning, Senegal

MEPI Connect—An Open Source Graduate Tracking Software System: Resource Requirements to Customize and Implement the System

January 2015 by Michael Drane, Rebecca Bailey, Rachel Deussom, and Zohray Talib
MEPI Connect: Resource Requirements

MEPI Connect is a software system that supports medical schools to track and engage with their graduates. The system allows users to view and analyze graduates’ demographic and professional information. The information is obtained initially from the school registrar’s office, then from the graduates themselves, and, when possible, from human resources information systems at ministries of health and/or professional councils. The software was developed by the PEPFAR-funded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Physician Tracking Technical Working Group in collaboration with CapacityPlus and the MEPI Coordinating Center. This document describes resource requirements to customize and implement the system.

TAGS: Education, Education and Training, Graduate Tracking, Health Professional Schools, Health Workers, MEPI, Resource Requirements, Software

The Medical Education Partnership Initiative: Report of the Graduate Tracking Software Review and Implementation Workshop

September 2014 by Rachel Deussom, Michael Drane, Rebecca Bailey, and Sinit Mehtsun
MEPI: Report of the Graduate Tracking Software Review and Implementation Workshop

In collaboration with the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Physician Tracking Technical Working Group, CapacityPlus and the MEPI Coordinating Center conducted a Graduate Tracking Software Review and Implementation Workshop in Moshi, Tanzania, July 8–11, 2014. Participants reviewed the beta version of the graduate tracking software and provided additional feedback to finalize its functional requirements, data elements, forms, reports, and other features. Each MEPI-supported school representative developed a draft 100-day strategic action plan for his/her institution with three common outcome objectives: 1) build/achieve consensus from key stakeholders on how to apply the software; 2) define needs for adapting, deploying, and maintaining the software; and 3) deploy the software.

TAGS: Graduate Tracking, Health Workers, MEPI, Preservice Education, Software, Training

Report of Training Needs Assessment for Community Health Workers in South-South Geopolitical Region of Nigeria

September 2014 by Shiono Bennibor, Samuel Ngobua, Rebecca Bailey, Ananaba Alozie, Joseph Eton, and Amanda Puckett
application/pdf iconReport of Training Needs Assessment for Community Health Workers

One of the recommendations from a 2013 CapacityPlus assessment of PEPFAR-funded in-service training in Nigeria was to ensure broader access to new developments in knowledge and technology, as well as sustainability of training, by integrating the in-service training contents into preservice education curricula and continuing professional development programs. This assessment explored community health extension worker and community health officer perceptions of globally-accepted competency domains for public health practitioners across the areas of importance, and confidence in their ability to demonstrate those competencies. To corroborate findings at the domain level, the assessment also assessed these health workers at the individual skill/ability levels, which are mapped to the competency domain areas. Need scores were calculated for each competency domain and individual skill/ability levels. A need score ranking placed the need for computer and information technology access and skills as the top priority among health workers who participated in the study. Financial planning and management and public health science skills ranked a close second and third. Read more »

TAGS: Assessment, Community Health Workers, Competencies, Continuing Professional Development, Health Workers, In-Service Training, Nigeria, Preservice Education

The Composition of the Social Service Workforce in HIV/AIDS-Affected Contexts

August 2014 by Kelley Bunkers, Amy Bess, Alex Collins, James McCaffery, and Maury Mendenhall
application/pdf iconThe Composition of the Social Service Workforce in HIV/AIDS-Affected Contexts

The social service workforce plays an invaluable role in supporting, protecting, and advocating for vulnerable children and families. This technical report describes the composition of the social service workforce drawn from several sources of data, including a literature review primarily focused on workforce issues in HIV/AIDS-impacted countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is intended to help the field move toward a common understanding of functions associated with different cadres within the social service workforce, titles associated with workers who perform these functions, and education or training that is typically associated with these cadres. Taking into consideration the differences across countries, the authors propose additional emphasis on some broad areas—including examples of promising practices—that will help to clarify the composition of social service workforce. A more in-depth look at how public-sector social service workers are classified in Kenya is available as an annex.

TAGS: Health Systems Strengthening, Kenya, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Social Service Workforce, Sub-Saharan Africa

Recruitment of Community Health Workers

July 2014 by Wanda Jaskiewicz and Rachel Deussom
Recruitment of Community Health Workers

This chapter by CapacityPlus/IntraHealth International authors appears in MCHIP’s publication, Developing and Strengthening Community Health Worker Programs at Scale: A Reference Guide and Case Studies for Program Managers and Policymakers, which provides an in-depth review of issues and questions that should be considered when addressing key issues relevant for large-scale community health worker programs. Chapter 8 considers key questions, recommendations, and challenges for community health worker recruitment planning and implementation, including selection, resource availability, and retention.

TAGS: Community Health Workers, Planning, Policy, Recruitment, Retention

Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS): A Review across States of India

June 2014 by Dr. Manju Shukla, Shalini Verma, Madhuri Narayanan, and David Potenziani
application/pdf iconHRIS: A Review across States of India

India faces critical human resources shortages for key cadres such as doctors, specialists, nurses, and midwives. Other key challenges include suboptimal deployment of staff exacerbated by a skewed urban-rural distribution, gaps in certain specialties, and inefficient use of staff due to poor rationalization of tasks. Lack of comprehensive, reliable, and up-to-date data and an absence of commonly agreed definitions and analytical tools make the task of managing the health workforce more difficult. This study reviewed human resources information systems (HRIS) across all 28 states and 7 union territories to assess their purpose, scope, coverage, software technology, usability, and sustainability. The study points out the need for a national HRIS framework to move all states to a web-based platform with common technologies and data structures.

TAGS: HR Information Systems, HRIS, India, Open Source, Study

Symposium Report: Supporting Families, Building a Better Tomorrow for Children: The Role of the Social Service Workforce

May 2014 by Alex Collins
Symposium Report

This report summarizes the contents of the symposium “Supporting Families, Building a Better Tomorrow for Children: The Role of the Social Service Workforce” hosted by the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance with support from PEPFAR/USAID and the National Association of Social Workers Foundation. Held at the National Press Club and made available via live webcast on April 29, 2014, the symposium contributed to the growing body of knowledge regarding the role of the social service workforce in promoting strong families and better futures for children. Expert presenters discussed current initiatives to strengthen the social service workforce and improve systems and services that promote well-being, protection, and healthy development. In addition to the report, the full program is available on the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance’s website, along with videos and presentations.

TAGS: Children, Families, Global Social Service Workforce Alliance, Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Social Service Workforce, Social Services, Social Workers