Topics: Community health workers, Country ownership, Motivation/incentives, Retention of health workers/reducing attrition, Training

Region and Country: Ethiopia

This study assessed the first year of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Worker (HEW) training program, a central component of the Health Extension Program's (HEP). The authors used a questionnaire and observations on the training program’s inputs, processes, and outputs. They found that the training centers lacked adequate facilities for the HEW trainees and the selection and training processes were flawed. However, trainees expressed a high level of commitment. The authors make recommendations on improving future training, continuing education of HEWs, and dealing with attrition.