%0 Journal Article
%T Factors affecting recruitment and retention of community health workers in a newborn care intervention in Bangladesh
%A Syed Rahman
%A Nabeel Ali
%A Larissa Jennings
%A M Habibur R Seraji
%A Ishtiaq Mannan
%A Rasheduzzaman Shah
%A Arif Al-Mahmud
%A Sanwarul Bari
%A Daniel Hossain
%A Milan Das
%A Abdullah H Baqui
%A Shams El Arifeen
%A Peter J Winch
%J Human Resources for Health
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1478-4491-8-12
%X Sixty-nine semi-structured questionnaires were administered to CHWs currently working with the project, as well as to those who had left. Process documentation was also carried out to identify project strengths and weaknesses, which included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, review of project records (i.e. recruitment and resignation), and informal discussion with key project personnel.Motivation for becoming a CHW appeared to stem primarily from the desire for self-development, to improve community health, and for utilization of free time. The most common factors cited for continuing as a CHW were financial incentive, feeling needed by the community, and the value of the CHW position in securing future career advancement. Factors contributing to attrition included heavy workload, night visits, working outside of one's home area, familial opposition and dissatisfaction with pay.The framework presented illustrates the decision making process women go through when deciding to become, or continue as, a CHW. Factors such as job satisfaction, community valuation of CHW work, and fulfilment of pre-hire expectations all need to be addressed systematically by programs to reduce rates of CHW attrition.Community Health Workers (CHWs) can increase access to, and use of, health services, and have played a part in primary health care, tuberculosis, immunization and family planning programmes. CHWs received less attention in the 1990s, but now again are at the centre of discussions about how to improve coverage and equity, particularly in populations with limited access to health facilities [1]. With appropriate expectations and sufficient investment and support, CHWs have the potential to play an important role in strengthening weak health systems [2].CHWs have been promoted for implementation of packages of interventions to reduce neonatal mortality such as antenatal home visits, promotion of immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, skin-to-skin care, appropriate care
%U http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/8/1/12