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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