Introduction

  In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), health care providers known as Community Health Workers (CHWs) are active in preventing and managing Type2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). However, their specific roles and activities have not been academically reviewed. The purpose of this article is to obtain suggestions for effective appointment and utilization of CHWs by categorizing the approach of CHWs on Type2 diabetes prevention and management programs in resource-limited regions.

Methods

  Original articles published between 2018 to July 2023 on the database of PubMed and Web of Science were searched. Articles that include all the keywords; ‘diabetes’, ‘community health worker(s)’ and ‘each name of LMICs (total of 54 countries or region)’ in the title/abstract were extracted.

Results

  From the 71 articles extracted, 20 articles from 11 countries/regions were selected for analysis. CHWs’ approaches towards the prevention and management of T2DM were categorized into: recruitment, screening, referral, follow-up, and others. The most common form of approach that CHWs make was a ‘home visit’.

Conclusions

  CHWs contributed to improved access to T2DM prevention and management using their knowledge of the community and relationships of trust with residents. A diverse approach by CHWs was identified, and they played important roles in primary and secondary prevention. Their roles are essential for high-quality T2DM prevention and management in LMICs facing a shortage of health care workers.

Objective

  This literature review aimed to explore the factors associated with prolonged grief among bereaved individuals who had lost a close person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

  Two databases were searched for relevant studies. Articles linked to the factors of prolonged grief disorder or complicated grief among individuals who had lost a close person during the COVID-19 pandemic were extracted. The factors analyzed and discussed in the retrieved studies were categorized based on their similarities.

Results

  Nine articles were extracted from 163 articles identified in the searches. Prolonged grief was observed among bereaved individuals during the pandemic irrespective of whether the loss was caused by COVID-19. Bereaved individuals who were unable to bid farewell to the deceased after the death or could virtually bid farewell before the death, and those who lost a first-degree family member in a close relationship were more likely to develop prolonged or severe grief. Attendance of in-person rituals was not significantly related to the level of prolonged grief symptoms. Bereaved persons who wished to receive psychosocial support showed more symptoms of prolonged grief disorder.

Conclusion

  For bereaved individuals who lost a close person during the pandemic, whether they bid farewell to the deceased in a way that allowed them to accept the loss may be related to the level of severe grief reactions, regardless of the cause of death. Healthcare workers should consider the potential risk of prolonged grief disorder among bereaved individuals in the aftermath of a public health emergency, and grief support should be offered to individuals in need.

Objective

  This preliminary research aims to explore health literacy among Kenyan mothers by examining their parenting perceptions. The findings will inform specific aspects of their health literacy.

Methods

  Semi-structured interviews incorporating the three levels of health literacy were conducted with Kenyan mothers residing in Japan, but who have parenting experience in Kenya, followed by inductive analysis. This research was conducted with the approval of the Ethis Committee of Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing.

Results

  The perceptions of Kenyan mothers regarding parenting were categorized into eight patterns: [strong parenting support for mothers], [encouragement of customary Kenyan parenting practices], [mothers’ decision-making in parenting], [sources of information beyond family and community], [discomfort with traditional parenting practices], [hope for children’s healthy and normal growth], [parents’ disappointment and acceptance of teenage pregnancy], and [beliefs in parenting]. Per Nutbeam’s three levels of health literacy, no functional health literacy was found in this study. Regarding interactive health literacy, the ability to communicate with and obtain support from older women was evident along with the ability to share knowledge within the community, recognize traditional practices, and make decisions by selecting relevant information in terms of critical health literacy. Additionally, it is also suggested that cultural beliefs and values may have influenced mothers’ health literacy.

Conclusion

  From the perspective of parenting perceptions, Kenyan mothers exhibited aspects of interactive and critical health literacy. These findings will serve as foundational data for more detailed examination of health literacy among Kenyan mothers in the local context.