Co-creation and Evaluation of Nationwide Remote Training Service for Mental Health Education of Community Health Workers in Rwanda

• Main Authors: Annik Willems, Jean-Damascène Iyamuremye, Claire Nancy Misage, Virginia Smith-Swintosky, Yvonne Kayiteshonga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-08-01
• Series: Frontiers in Public Health
• Subjects: Rwanda; Community Health Workers; mental health; mobile phones; low cost; mobile health care application
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.632793/full

Objective: Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health and the Ministry of Health of Rwanda strengthened the mental health awareness by providing an innovative, low-cost, easily accessible, and scalable remote training service (RTS) on mental health for Community Health Workers (CHWs).Methods: The RTS consisted of eight training modules shared via simple feature phones over a 4-week period. Quiz questions and baseline/endline assessments were included to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the training platform, the knowledge and self-confidence gained by the CHWs, and prospects for the sustainability of the platform.Results: Ninety-three percent of the CHWs completed at least four of the eight training modules, and 42% of the CHWs improved with a higher end score. The training content was considered interesting, easy to understand, and helpful to intervene appropriately to refer patients with signs of mental illness to a hospital and to provide community and family education on mental health topics.Conclusion: The RTS is feasible and acceptable for the delivery of mental health training on a large scale and contributed to strengthening the capacity in delivering mental health care at community level.