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. 2022 Jan 3;10(1):88.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10010088.

Resolution of Resilience: Empirical Findings on the Challenges Faced and the Mitigation Strategies Adopted by Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Provide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Odisha, India

Bijaya Kumar Mishra  1 , Srikanta Kanungo  1 , Kripalini Patel  1 , Swagatika Swain  1 , Subhralaxmi Dwivedy  1 , Subhashree Panda  1 , Sonam Karna  1 , Dinesh Bhuyan  1 , Meena Som  2 , Brajesh Raj Merta  2 , Debdutta Bhattacharya  1 , Jaya Singh Kshatri  1 , Subrata Kumar Palo  1 , Sanghamitra Pati  1
Affiliations

Resolution of Resilience: Empirical Findings on the Challenges Faced and the Mitigation Strategies Adopted by Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Provide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Odisha, India

Bijaya Kumar Mishra et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Community health workers (CHW) faced increased challenges in delivering maternal and child health services during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to routine services, they were also engaged in pandemic management. In view of a dearth of evidence, the current study explores the challenges faced by CHWs while rendering maternal and child health services. A qualitative study through in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD) in six districts of Odisha was conducted from February to April 2021. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA software. Personal-level challenges, like lack of family support, stress, and fear of contracting COVID-19; facility-level challenges, like transportation problems and inadequate personal protective measures; and community-level challenges, like stigma, resistance, and lack of community support were major hindrances in provisioning routine MCH services. Prevailing myths and misconceptions concerning COVID-19 were factors behind stigma and resistance. Sharing experiences with family, practicing yoga and pranayam, engaging ambulance bikes, financial assistance to mothers, counseling people, and involving community leaders were some effective strategies to address these challenges. Development and implementation of appropriate strategy guidelines for addressing the challenges of frontline warriors will improve their work performance and achieve uninterrupted MCH services during pandemics or similar health emergencies.

Keywords: COVID-19; community health worker; maternal and child health; odisha; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders contributed to the design of the study protocol and supported training of the project staff. They did not have any access to data throughout.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Odisha and the division-wise study districts and blocks.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conceptual framework depicting the challenges faced, their effect, and strategies adopted by CHWs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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