Trial to Improve Access to PMTCT Services and Reduce HIV Transmission From Mother to Child

"The CHW employed in this study are a health worker cadre that already exists in the Tanzanian public-sector health system, so-called home-base carers (or HBC). The HBC in this study are supervised by another existing cadre, so-called community-based health care workers (or CBHC). The CBHC are clinic-based and are charged to organize community outreach activities in the Tanzanian public-sector health systems. The CBHC (1-2 per clinic) are also active in the control arm; in this intervention arm, there role is changed: they are actively supervising a large number of CHW. Per street (or mtaa), 1-2 CHW are assigned to carry out the enhanced CHW intervention."

The standard of care in the Tanzanian health care system does not include any CHW intervention to enhance ANC and PMTCT uptake and retention. The only community-based intervention are PMTCT follow-up organized by a health worker cadre who works out of ANC and primary care clinics (so-called CBHC).