Andrea K Blanchard|Audrey Prost|Tanja A. J. Houweling
Effects of community health worker interventions on socioeconomic inequities in maternal and newborn health in low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review
University College London|University College London|Erasmus MC
community health worker chw interventions promoted improve maternal newborn health lowincome middleincome countries reviewed evidence effectiveness reducing socioeconomic inequities maternal newborn health outcomes achieve effects contextual processes shape effectswe conducted mixedmethods systematic review quantitative qualitative studies published 1996 2017 medline embase web science scopus databases included studies examining effects chw interventions lowincome middleincome countries maternal newborn health outcomes across socioeconomic groups wealth occupation education class caste tribe religion conducted narrative synthesis evidencewe identified 1919 articles 22 met inclusion criteria chws facilitated four types interventions home visits communitybased groups cash transfers combinations four studies found chws providing home visits facilitating womens groups equitable coverage four others found home visits cash transfer interventions inequitable coverage five studies reported equitable effects chw interventions antenatal care skilled birth attendance andor essential newborn care one study found chw home visit intervention reduce wealth inequities skilled birth attendance study womens groups reported greater reductions neonatal mortality among lower compared higher socioeconomic groups equity improved chws relevant support assisting women improve health practices access health care within community contextswhile current evidence remains limited particularly mortality existing studies suggest chw interventions involving home visits cash transfers participatory womens groups multiple components improve equity maternal newborn health future mixedmethods research explore intervention strategies contextual processes shaping effects equity optimise efforts