Bokaba, Dorah Dorothea2024-11-192024-11-192024Bokaba, Dorah Dorothea. (2024). Exploring inter-professional collaboration between community health workers and health care providers in two clinics in the City of Johannesburg district [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/42699https://hdl.handle.net/10539/42699A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health (MPH) to the Faculty of Health Sciences in the School of Public Health , University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2024Background: Large-scale community health worker (CHW) programmes gained renewed interest over time. This was more pronounced during the emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with CHWs exemplifying the role of task-shifting to alleviate already fragile and resource-scarce health systems. Many low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), including South Africa, implemented CHW programmes to complement health workforce. Thus, health care providers (HCPs) including professional nurses, health promoters, allied health workers, operational manager clinic, social workers, and CHWs are expected to collaborate with CHWs to provide health care service. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore inter-professional collaborations (IPC) between CHWs and HCPs in two primary health care (PHC) facilities in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. Methodology: This study used an exploratory qualitative design. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively sampled CHWs (n=12) and HCPs (n=10) in two PHC facilities from two sub-districts. All interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Team structures were reported to be centred around the CHWs and Outreach team leader (OTLs), however other HCPs like nurses, health promoters, and social workers also played a role. Reporting procedures were hierarchical, with CHWs reporting to OTLs, who reported to operational managers (OPMs). CHWs were at the bottom of the hierarchy with the reporting structures being described as challenging as they were related to power dynamics. Communication was poor and with unplanned meetings. Participants suggested the need for improved support and communication to strengthen IPCs. Conclusion: IPC between the HCPs and CHW is critical in ensuring patient care continuity. Some dimensions of IPC, such as shared responsibility and mutual understanding of roles by team members, were evident. The communication processes showed some weaknesses, including the consequences in power relations. In order to enhance the contribution of CHWs in PHC and universal health coverage (UHC), it is necessary to explore ways to strengthen IPC between HCPs and CHWsen© 2024 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.Community health workersHealth care providersInter-professional collaborationUCTDSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg