Prevention of hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting in South Africa: Participatory action research with community health workers

This paper illustrates the unique involvement of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in a successful participatory action research project on the prevention of hypertension and diabetes and promotion of health in site C, Khayelitsha, a deprived urban area of Cape Town, South Africa.

The project highlighted a number of important implications for health
services. First, it has illustrated the value of involving CHWs or other local teams in community-based initiatives to promote health. Second, it has identified the key role of health services to facilitate appropriate training and develop skills in identified teams. And, third, it has shown that the establishment of mechanisms to monitor and link community-based services to local primary health services may strengthen the quality of the services provided and increase their long-term sustainability.

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Prevention of hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting in South Africa: Participatory action research with community health workers