Examining the implementation of the Kenya Community Health Strategy in urban informal settlements
Wellcome Trust
KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme
The Kenya Community Health Strategy (CHS) is a plan of action to expand community access to health care using - amongst other measures - community health volunteers (CHVs). The CHS has had varying degrees of success with ongoing discussions on how to strengthen it. There is limited information on implementation of the CHS in urban informal settlements (‘slums’) such as those located in Nairobi, Kenya. This is despite such areas accounting for a high burden of disease. Focusing on four large slums within Nairobi County and utilizing a qualitative exploratory approach, this study seeks to understand what influences the performance of CHVs. Individual and group interviews will be conducted with various cadres of health staff at sub-national and community level. These will be supplemented with observations and document reviews. Data will be analysed using framework analysis. The findings from this work will have direct relevance on ongoing policy discussions and strategies on how to strengthen the role of CHVs to attain universal health coverage (UHC). Findings will also inform potential future intervention studies on the effectiveness of CHVs to support the recovery of ill children post hospital admission.
8.3 Policy, ethics and research governance