Acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of an expanded role for community health workers for malaria elimination in Myanmar: A mixed-method study

As countries transition to malaria elimination many are considering expanding the role of dedicated malaria community health workers (CHWs) to provide both malaria and limited primary health care services. The acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of an expanded role for CHW are vital factors for the successful implementation and sustainability of this health care model and data are needed to inform policy change.To further inform an expanded CHW model for malaria elimination, a mixed-method study nested in a trial which demonstrated effectiveness was undertaken to determine the acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of an expanded role for CHW in Myanmar. Data were collected as part of the trial including qualitative semi-structured in-depth interview with community leaders (n = 6) and health stakeholders (n = 14), focus group discussions (n = 36), supervision (n = 69) and field observation visits (n = 6) with CHWs. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered to community members (n = 643). Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed thematically and descriptively, and then triangulated for rigour. The expanded CHW model was acceptable to different levels of health stakeholders, CHWs and community members (97.4%, 626/643) because it addressed the community demand of health services (93.0%, 598/643) and promoted the roles of the CHWs within the framework of health regulations. Its implementation was also feasible due to the enthusiasm and high fidelity (97.1%, 67/69) of the CHWs as well as reliance of community members on expanded CHW services (98.3%, 632/643). However, aspects of training, supervision, supply chain management, referral mechanisms, and recording and reporting of data could have been improved. The expanded role for CHW model was found to be feasible to implement and acceptable to community members and stakeholders. With further investment and optimisation, wider-scale implementation of the model in malaria elimination settings may contribute to the goals of malaria elimination and effective primary health care in malaria elimination settings.