Integrating Mental Well-being policies for community health workers in Kenya to strengthen community health system- Findings from a Qualitative Study

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are globally acknowledged as a vital health workforce and a bridge between informal community health systems and formal healthcare systems. In resource-constrained settings, CHWs are often the only point of contact with formal health services for many among the urban and rural poor. CHWs have heavy workloads, are under-prioritized, have minimal supervisory support, and the majority are not fairly compensated. Evidence examining CHWs’ mental well-being and agency is scarce. Furthermore, other elements of a CHW experience are more widely documented, but few consider the CHW as an individual with needs related to their mental well-being. This study sought to understand the perceptions and experiences of policymakers regarding community health services and their interaction with Community Health Workers.