ISCO 08 Code 3253  Community health workers   

Lead Statement

Community health workers provide health education, referral and follow up, case management, and basic preventive health care and home visiting services to specific communities. They provide support and assistance to individuals and families in navigating the health and social services system.

Task statement

• providing  education to communities and families on a range of health issues including family planning,  control and treatment of infectious diseases, poisoning prevention, HIV risk factors and measures to prevent transmission, risk factors associated with substance abuse, domestic violence, breastfeeding and other topics;
• assisting families to develop the necessary skills and resources to improve their health status, family functioning and self-sufficiency;
• conducting outreach efforts to pregnant women (including those who are not involved in prenatal, health or other community services, and other high risk populations) to help them with access to prenatal and other health care services;
• ensuring parents understand the need for children to receive immunizations and regular health care;
• working with parents in their homes to improve parent-child interaction and to promote their understanding of normal child development;
• providing advice and education on sanitation and hygiene to limit the spread of infectious diseases;
• storing and distributing medical supplies for the prevention and cure of endemic diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and instructing members of the community in the use of these products;
• assisting families in gaining access to  medical and other health services.

Included occupations

Examples of the occupations classified here:

• Community health aide
• Community health promoter
• Community health worker
• Village health worker

Excluded occupations

• Village healer - 3230
• Home care aide - 5322

Comments

Split group, supported by WHO.  Sources of definition: New York State Community health program (http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/perinatal/en/chwp.htm);  WHO report: http://www.who.int/hrh/documents/community_health_workers.pdf

ISCO 88 Code(s) 3221, part

(NCvB; Maart 2010)