Informal health workers -- to be encouraged or condemned?
نویسنده
چکیده
Home-based care of patients is increasing in importance in many societies, particularly where health facilities are overwhelmed by human immune deficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and patients are returned to their homes to be cared for or to await death. Care is mostly provided by close family members who have no formal training in health care, though in some cases they may receive guidance from professional health visitors. Formal health visitors as a professional category should be rapidly expanded in order to provide needed support to the growing numbers of home-based informal caregivers. Political and other leaders in the community, where the physical and social environments are regulated, are another group of informal health workers whose role in determining health outcomes of populations is generally understated and needs to be highlighted and brought to the fore. In many communities, a significant proportion of health care is provided in commercial settings such as markets and shops. Vendors are regularly called upon to advise purchasers on the effects of the health products on sale and methods for their use, including potent drugs and medical equipment. In many cases these merchants and shopkeepers interrogate the buyers, take medical histories and proceed to diagnose and prescribe. In situations where formal health facilities are not available nearby or easy to access, this group of informal health workers is the first and most important point of call by people in search of health services. The regulation and supervision of such vendors acting as informal health workers assume enormous importance, considering that many of them may trade in dangerous drugs that would normally be prescribed and supervised by qualified professionals. Storage conditions of the drugs and commodities may render them ineffective and even dangerous. Diagnoses and prescriptions
منابع مشابه
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عنوان ژورنال:
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization
دوره 84 2 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2006