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ToolsNeto, João Bastos Freire, de Moraes, Gerídice Lorna Andrade, de Souza Aredes, Janaína, Giacomin, Karla Cristina, de Melo, Luciane Ponte, Sempe, Lucas and Lloyd-Sherlock, Peter (2021) Building the capacity of community health workers to support health and social care for dependent older people in Latin America: a pilot study in Fortaleza, Brazil. BMC Geriatrics, 21 (1). ISSN 1471-2318
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Abstract
Background: Brazil is seeing rapid population ageing, which is leading to new demands on primary health care services. There is a need to develop and assess the effectiveness of new interventions to build the capacity of staff, including community health workers, to meet the needs of groups such as care-dependent older people and their care-givers. This study examines the feasibility of a small training intervention piloted in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza. Methods: The study evaluated participants’ own assessments of key knowledge and skills related to the needs of care-dependent older people, both before and after the training intervention. It also assessed their capacity to implement a simple screening tool of geriatric risk factors. Results: The participant self-assessments indicate significant improvements in their perceived knowledge and capacity in responding to the health needs of care-dependent older people. Additionally, participants were able to successfully conduct the home visits and screening for risk factors. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the feasibility of developing interventions to enhance the capacity of community health workers to meet the needs of dependent older people in countries like Brazil. The evidence of effectiveness, though limited and subjective, provides justification for a larger, formally evaluated intervention. The experience of Fortaleza provides valuable lessons for other cities and countries in the region which are facing similar challenges.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding Information: The design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and writing the manuscript were all funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Newton Fund (MR/R024219/1) in partnership with the Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP). |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | brazil,community health workers,older people,training,geriatrics and gerontology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2717 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development) |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Life Course, Migration and Wellbeing Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Health and Disease |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Oct 2021 00:56 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2022 03:05 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/81607 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12877-021-02477-3 |
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