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Hear my voice: Understanding how community health workers in the Peruvian Amazon expanded their roles to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through community-based participatory research

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dc.contributor.author Samsamshariat, Tina
dc.contributor.author Madhivanan, Purnima
dc.contributor.author Reyes Fernández Prada, Alexandra
dc.contributor.author Moya, Eva M.
dc.contributor.author Meza, Graciela
dc.contributor.author Reinders, Stefan Alexander
dc.contributor.author Blas Blas, Magaly Marlitz
dc.coverage.spatial Nauta, Loreto
dc.coverage.spatial Parinari, Loreto
dc.date.accessioned 2023-12-05T17:48:00Z
dc.date.available 2023-12-05T17:48:00Z
dc.date.issued 2023
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12866/14636
dc.description.abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led to the collapse of the Peruvian health system, disrupting healthcare access for indigenous communities in the Amazon. Our study analysed how community health workers (CHWs) from indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon expanded their roles to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Fourteen CHWs from Loreto, Peru, participated in a community-based participatory research project using Photovoice, a technique encouraging vulnerable groups to take photos and develop stories illustrating their lived experiences. Participants were recruited from Mamás del Río, a local university-based programme, through purposive sampling. CHWs were asked to photograph how the pandemic affected their lives and work. Participants met four times over 5 months to share photos and develop action items. Data were organised into key themes using thematic analysis. CHWs shared photo galleries with policy-makers in Loreto and Lima. Results CHWs produced 36 photos with 33 texts highlighting their roles during COVID-19. Three core themes emerged: the (1) collapse of health infrastructure, (2) use of medicinal plants versus pharmaceuticals and (3) community adaptations and struggles. The leadership of CHWs emerged as a cross-cutting theme as CHWs supported COVID-19 efforts without government training or resources. CHWs asked policy-makers for formal integration into the health system, standardisation of training and management of community pharmacies. Conclusion CHWs demonstrated their leadership and expanded their roles during the pandemic with little to no training from the government. Global investment in robust CHW programmes can fortify healthcare delivery. © 2023 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved. en_US
dc.language.iso eng
dc.publisher BMJ Publishing Group
dc.relation.ispartofseries BMJ Global Health
dc.rights info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.rights.uri https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es
dc.subject Community health workers en_US
dc.subject Peruvian Amazon en_US
dc.subject COVID-19 en_US
dc.subject Pandemic en_US
dc.subject Community-based participatory en_US
dc.subject Research en_US
dc.subject.mesh Agentes Comunitarios de Salud
dc.subject.mesh Ecosistema Amazónico
dc.subject.mesh COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh Pandemia
dc.subject.mesh Investigación Participativa Basada en la Comunidad
dc.subject.mesh Investigación
dc.title Hear my voice: Understanding how community health workers in the Peruvian Amazon expanded their roles to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through community-based participatory research en_US
dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.identifier.doi https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012727
dc.subject.ocde https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#3.03.02
dc.subject.ocde https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#3.03.05
dc.relation.issn 2059-7908


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