The Role of Community Health Agents in Promoting Social Change in Peru.

Background: Community health agents (CHAs) provide basic health services and increase health care access thereby improving health outcomes for peri-urban regions in Peru. Few studies analyze the effect that becoming a CHA has on women's interpersonal interactions. We aim to explore the impact CHAs m...

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Publicado en:Journal of Community Health Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 485 - 492
Autores principales: Allen, Elizabeth M, Frisancho, Ariel, Llanten, Claudia, Knep, Maren E, Van Skiba, Michael J, Izarra, Cecilia
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Springer Nature Jun2024
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2024
      vid: 49
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        178046733
        10.1007/s10900-023-01317-2
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        atl: The Role of Community Health Agents in Promoting Social Change in Peru.
      aug:
        au:
          Allen, Elizabeth M
          Frisancho, Ariel
          Llanten, Claudia
          Knep, Maren E
          Van Skiba, Michael J
          Izarra, Cecilia
        affil:
          https://ror.org/03x1f1d90 St. Catherine University, Public Health, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
          COPASAH South America Coordinator, Lima, Peru
          https://ror.org/014j0w741 Catholic Medical Mission Board, New York, NY, USA
          Catholic Medical Mission Board, Lima, Peru
      su:
        Peru
        Occupational roles
        Self-efficacy
        Social change
        Social norms
        Professional identity
        Gender inequality
        Discussion
        Family support
        Research funding
        World health
        Thematic analysis
      sug:
        subj:
          Occupational roles
          Self-efficacy
          Social change
          Social norms
          Professional identity
          Gender inequality
          Discussion
          Family support
          Peru
          Research funding
          World health
          Thematic analysis
      keyword:
        Community Health Agents
        Global Health
        Social Norms
        Women's Empowerment
        Community Health Agents
        Global Health
        Social Norms
        Women's Empowerment
      ab: Background: Community health agents (CHAs) provide basic health services and increase health care access thereby improving health outcomes for peri-urban regions in Peru. Few studies analyze the effect that becoming a CHA has on women's interpersonal interactions. We aim to explore the impact CHAs may have on gender and social norms through their roles as trusted leaders in male-dominated communities. Methods: We conducted six 90-minute group discussions with CHAs working in Huancayo and Trujillo, Peru. We designed the discussions to extract data about family and community norms that changed as a result of working as a CHA. Results: A total of 53 female CHAs participated in six discussion groups. CHAs reported shifting family support (a change in how their family supported them in their role as a CHA), gaining status within their family (feeling more valued for their knowledge and experience), and shifting family gender roles (men and boys taking on more household responsibilities) as a result of their work. CHAs also reported a change in community norms and felt they were more valued and respected within their communities as women leaders. Conclusions: Working as a CHA creates an opportunity to enact social change through altering family dynamics and community perceptions. Moreover, empowering women to become CHAs not only generates tangible benefits in community health, but can help create social change that ultimately improves the lives of women and realize their human rights.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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