Community health workers (CHWs) for a health program in Malawi are mostly men.
This is typical in Malawi because job descriptions for CHW positions require a high school diploma even when they are not necessary to be successful in the position.
Few women in Malawi attend high school, often due to inequitable gender norms. A mix of providers, including more Malawian women with similar social status to the program clientele, could increase program effectiveness.
Including more women candidates could be accomplished by:
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- Lowering the education requirement
- Selecting workers on more relevant attributes (respect in the community and ability to counsel).
These materials were adapted from the Global Health Learning Center, U.S. Agency for International Development.