Human Resources for Health in Maternal, Neonatal and - HRH ...

There are a number of difficulties in recruiting CHWs from communities. Leadership politics
can influence the selection process and the decisions made. Ehrlich suggests making efforts
to ensure that all community members have access to recruitment information and have the
opportunity to apply for the position (2004). Recruiting health workers from outside the
community may help to ensure better services particularly when confidentiality is required or
issues are taboo or sensitive. Goude documents the importance of outreach community health
services in rural Ghana and the role of the outsider in service provision. (1997). Clearly a
balance is required between local health workers and those from outside who are well known
to the community and accepted by them.
The key factors to consider in the recruitment of peer health educators is described in a
Family Health International Tool book outlining the Standards for Peer Education
Programmes (2005). These including the need to: identify sources and channels for recruiting
peer educators, decide on criteria for peer educator selection, set clear expectations and
establish a standardized and transparent interview and selection process. Four broad
categories to develop criteria for the selection and recruitment of youth to be involved in
reproductive health programmes are outlined in a Pathfinder International report
(Senderowitz 1998) based upon those employed in a CDC American youth Prevention
Marketing Project (AED 1997). They are:
Descriptive: characteristics include age, sex, ethnicity, education level, socioeconomic
status, area of residence and family constellation.
Skills-based: relevant work or volunteer experience, leadership qualities, skills in
working with peers, experience working with adults or within committees,
communication skills
Constituency-based: membership or affiliation with a particular group considered to
be a program partner or target audience or one whose members possess characteristics
desired by the planned program. For example gang members, slum dwellers or
commercial sex workers or members of youth, religious or school-related groups.
Target-audience based: criteria would be the same as selecting the target audience or
determining eligibility for receipt of program services
Selection criteria for PHEs is also discussed in an IPPF document (IPPF 2004) which
highlights appropriate age, commitment and willingness, tolerance and dynamic nature. A
study of 21 peer education projects supported by AIDSCAP in Africa, Asia and Latin
America, reported that project managers look for certain characteristics in their selection of
peer educators. They seek young people who are: accepted and respected, good at
communication, literate and charismatic, able to understand health problems and interested in
self-enhancement, peer selected, and willing to be volunteers (Flanagan 1996). The
recruitment of PHE can occur through youth agencies or groups and through advertisements
in the local media.
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