A Qualitative Study of the Role of Female Community Health Workers in Pandemic and Epidemic Prevention and Preparedness in Afigya Kwabre South Peri-Urban District, Ghana

Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) constitute a significant proportion of the primary healthcare workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), playing a crucial role in empowering local populations and enhancing their capacity in disease prevention and control efforts. As it were in many other epidemics of the past, CHWs were instrumental in the COVID-19 pandemic response strategies of many SSA countries, including Ghana, contributing to case management, community education and contact tracing. However, their role and contributions have been impacted by several challenges including social stigmatization. Strengthening CHW support systems and resource allocation is essential to identifying best practices that can inform policy making and build their capacity for future pandemic and epidemic emergencies. Methods: A qualitative study using an exploratory design was conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of 15 CHWs in Afigya Kwabre South Peri-Urban District, Ghana. An interview guide was developed and used to gather data through in-depth face-to-face interviews from 27 April to 23 May 2023 using a purposive sampling approach. The data were analyzed using NVIVO version 12.2.0 Results: The study reveals the critical role of CHWs in Ghana’s COVID-19 response, emphasizing their contributions to contact tracing, vaccinations and community sensitization efforts. Despite their invaluable impact, CHWs faced significant challenges such as inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and social stigmatization. Their perceived level of preparedness was relatively low, with fear of contracting the virus further undermining their confidence and readiness. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already-existing challenges Community Health Workers faced during their routine service delivery. Improving access to adequate PPEs and regular training initiatives are essential for building CHWs capacity and boost their resilient preparedness to respond to future pandemics/epidemics.