Integrating community health volunteers into non-communicable disease management among Syrian refugees in Jordan: a causal loop analysis

There is emerging evidence on the use of community health workers and volunteers in low-income and middle-income settings for the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, little guidance exists on the role of this workforce in supporting NCD care for refugees who lack access to continuous care in their host country. This work aimed to evaluate the current roles of community health volunteers (CHVs) in the management of diabetes and hypertension (HTN) among Syrian refugees, and to suggest improvements to the current primary care model using community health strategies.

A participatory, multi-stakeholder causal loop analysis workshop with representatives from the Ministry of Health of Jordan, non-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, CHVs and refugee patients was conducted in June 2019 in Amman, Jordan. Participants collaboratively identified and mapped how CHVs might improve care among diagnosed patients.

CHV programmes were cited as a key strategy to implement secondary prevention of morbidity and mortality among Syrian refugees.