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Table 1 CHW characteristics and activities

From: Community-based health care is an essential component of a resilient health system: evidence from Ebola outbreak in Liberia

Indicator Bomi Gbarpolu Grand Gedeh Overall
N 17 18 25 60
Male, n (%) 14 (82) 16 (89) 18 (72) 48 (80)
Mean age, years 37 36 33 35
Any suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola infection in their community, n (%) 2 (12) 5 (28) - 7 (12)*
Anyone died from Ebola in their community, n (%) 2 (12) - - 2 (3)
Observed trend in CHW services during Ebola outbreak compared to before the outbreak, n (%)
 Stayed the same 3 (18) 2 (11) 2 (8) 7 (12)
 Increased 3 (18) 2 (11) 4 (16) 9 (15)
 Decreased 11 (65) 14 (78) 19 (76) 44 (73)
Drugs available during the Ebola crisis, n (%)a
 Diarrhea 11 (65) 8 (44) 19 (76) 38 (63)
 Pneumonia 7 (41) 8 (44) 16 (64) 31 (52)
Drugs available currently, n (%)
 Diarrhea 10 (59) 6 (33) 23 (92) 39 (65)*
 Pneumonia 4 (24) 1 (6) 17 (68) 22 (37)*
 Malaria 7 (41) 17 (94) 23 (92) 47 (78)*
Level of HF functioning during outbreak, mean (median) (1 = non-functional; 5 = fully functional) 1.6 (1) 3.0 (4) 3.1 (2) 2.7 (2)*
Supervision received during Ebola crisis, n (%) 15 (88) 18 (100) 24 (96) 57 (95)
 Red Cross project staff 12 (71) 17 (94) 21 (84) 50 (83)
 MOH 6 (35) 6 (33) 12 (48) 24 (40)
 Other NGO - - 7 (28) 7 (12)
Received training on No-Touch Policy, n (%) 16 (100) 18 (100) 24 (96) 58 (98)
Who provided training on No-Touch Policy, n (%)
 Red Cross project 11 (69) 18 (100) 23 (92) 52 (88)*
 MOH Staff 6 (38) 7 (39) 7 (28) 20 (34)
 Other NGO 2 (13) 1 (6) 17 (68) 20 (34)*
Used No-Touch guidelines when assessing sick children, n (%) 13 (76) 18 (100) 24 (96) 55 (92)
Contact from MOH/local health facility during the Ebola responseb, n (%) 11 (65) 12 (67) 22 (88) 45 (75)
Engaged in Ebola prevention education to community, n (%) 17 (100) 18 (100) 25 (100) 60 (100)
Support received to provide Ebola prevention education activities, n (%)
 Red Cross project staff 12 (71) 13 (72) 21 (84) 46 (77)
 MOH Health Staff 3 (18) 4 (22) 5 (20) 12 (20)
 Community Health Committee 6 (35) 4 (22) - 10 (17)*
 Other NGO 4 (24) 7 (39) 16 (64) 27 (45)*
  1. * p < 0.05 for Fisher’s exact test of differences in proportions across County or Anova f-test of differences in means across County
  2. aMalaria drugs had not yet been distributed to CHWs at the time of the Ebola outbreak
  3. b80% reported the purpose of the visit was to ask the CHW to create awareness and provide Ebola prevention education
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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