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Volume 20
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10.3390/ijerph20176675
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Review

Task-Shifting: Can Community Health Workers Be Part of the Solution to an Inactive Nation?

by
Estelle D. Watson
1,2,*,
Shabir Moosa
3,
Dina C. Janse Van Rensburg
4,
Martin Schwellnus
4,
Estelle V. Lambert
5 and
Mark Stoutenberg
1,6
1
Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
2
Department of Exercise Science, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
3
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
4
Section Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
5
UCT Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Division of Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
6
College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(17), 6675; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176675
Submission received: 15 May 2023 / Revised: 3 August 2023 / Accepted: 17 August 2023 / Published: 29 August 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges and Trends in Physical Activity and Leisure)
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Abstract

Background: In low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), there is a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) placing strain on the facilities and human resources of healthcare systems. Prevention strategies that include lifestyle behavior counseling have become increasingly important. We propose a potential solution to the growing burden of NCDs through an expansion of the role for community health workers (CHWs) in prescribing and promoting physical activity in public health settings. This discussion paper provides a theoretical model for task-shifting of assessment, screening, counseling, and prescription of physical activity to CHWs. Five proposed tasks are presented within a larger model of service delivery and provide a platform for a structured, standardized, physical activity prevention strategy aimed at NCDs using CHWs as an integral part of reducing the burden of NCDs in LMICs. However, for effective implementation as part of national NCD plans, it is essential that CHWs received standardized, ongoing training and supervision on physical activity and other lifestyle behaviors to optimally impact community health in low resource settings.
Keywords: advocacy; behavior change; community health workers; health promotion; physical activity advocacy; behavior change; community health workers; health promotion; physical activity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Watson, E.D.; Moosa, S.; Janse Van Rensburg, D.C.; Schwellnus, M.; Lambert, E.V.; Stoutenberg, M. Task-Shifting: Can Community Health Workers Be Part of the Solution to an Inactive Nation? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176675

AMA Style

Watson ED, Moosa S, Janse Van Rensburg DC, Schwellnus M, Lambert EV, Stoutenberg M. Task-Shifting: Can Community Health Workers Be Part of the Solution to an Inactive Nation? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(17):6675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176675

Chicago/Turabian Style

Watson, Estelle D., Shabir Moosa, Dina C. Janse Van Rensburg, Martin Schwellnus, Estelle V. Lambert, and Mark Stoutenberg. 2023. "Task-Shifting: Can Community Health Workers Be Part of the Solution to an Inactive Nation?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 17: 6675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176675

APA Style

Watson, E. D., Moosa, S., Janse Van Rensburg, D. C., Schwellnus, M., Lambert, E. V., & Stoutenberg, M. (2023). Task-Shifting: Can Community Health Workers Be Part of the Solution to an Inactive Nation? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(17), 6675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176675

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