AUTHOR=Willems Annik , Iyamuremye Jean-Damascène , Misage Claire Nancy , Smith-Swintosky Virginia , Kayiteshonga Yvonne 

TITLE=Co-creation and Evaluation of Nationwide Remote Training Service for Mental Health Education of Community Health Workers in Rwanda

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.632793

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.632793

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Johnson &amp; Johnson Global Public Health and the Ministry of Health of Rwanda strengthened the mental health awareness by providing an innovative, low-cost, easily accessible, and scalable remote training service (RTS) on mental health for Community Health Workers (CHWs).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The RTS consisted of eight training modules shared via simple feature phones over a 4-week period. Quiz questions and baseline/endline assessments were included to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the training platform, the knowledge and self-confidence gained by the CHWs, and prospects for the sustainability of the platform.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Ninety-three percent of the CHWs completed at least four of the eight training modules, and 42% of the CHWs improved with a higher end score. The training content was considered interesting, easy to understand, and helpful to intervene appropriately to refer patients with signs of mental illness to a hospital and to provide community and family education on mental health topics.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The RTS is feasible and acceptable for the delivery of mental health training on a large scale and contributed to strengthening the capacity in delivering mental health care at community level.</p>