YendaNafe CHT app by PIH in Malawi

The YendaNafe app co-designed by PIH Malawi and Medic

Since 2017, Partners in Health (PIH) Malawi and Medic have collaboratively co-designed and developed YendaNafe, a digital health app for community based service provision. In the spirit of openness, Medic and PIH have coordinated the release of the full application source code of Yendanafe app as first of kind ‘‘Integrated CHT Reference app’’. This Reference app provides an example that CHT Implementers can learn how they can design and configure integrated workflows.

Problem being addressed

Malawi is one of the countries with a high prevalence of HIV, high rates of infant and maternal mortality and a high burden of non communicable diseases (NCD) and tuberculosis. To help respond to community needs and reduce the disease burden, PIH in partnership with the Ministry of Health are implementing an integrated household model in Neno District. Under the model, community health workers (CHWs) and CHW supervisors have been equipped with the YendaNafe app, the app supports the health care workers to provide integrated community based health care services and to coordinate care.

Solution overview

The YendaNafe app workflows support CHWs to conduct integrated disease screening, provide health care services, refer people in communities to facilities especially those who require facility based care and raise community awareness on health. The app is designed to support the following key health areas:

  • Maternal child health (antenatal care and postnatal care)
  • Family planning (FP)
  • Malnutrition
  • Immunization
  • Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI)
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Non communicable diseases (NCDs)

Users and hierarchy

UsersLocationDevicesRoles
Community Health Directoradmin levelLaptop or desktopStaff at this level will be given access to dashboards where they can monitor program indicators. Online only access to the app.
CHW Manager and Officersadmin levelLaptop or desktopStaff at this level will be given access to dashboards where they can monitor program indicators. Online only access to the app.
Site Supervisors (SS)admin levelLaptop or desktopStaff at this level will be given access to dashboards where they can monitor program indicators. Online only access to the app.
Senior CHWs (SCHW) - Supervisory roleFacility and community levelsSmartphoneThey supervise CHW and mentor CHWs, collect sputum for probable TB cases. They are offline users.
CHWsCommunity levelSmartphoneCHWs register households, conduct household visits, case screening, referrals, follow-ups, and defaulter tracing. They are offline users.

Workflows

Maternal neonatal health workflow

This workflow consists of the pregnancy, delivery and postnatal workflows.The pregnancy workflow enables CHWs to register new pregnancies, screen pregnant mothers for danger signs and follow up pregnant mother to remind them to attend the scheduled ANC clinic appointments. The postnatal (PNC) workflow supports CHWs to follow up PNC women and newborns for danger signs screening and refer PNC women with danger signs to facilities to receive more care.

Pregnancy workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

Upon discovering a suspected pregnancy, a CHW escorts the woman to a health facility for a pregnancy test and submits a Pregnancy Screening Form.

Task

A Pregnancy Confirmation and Referral Follow-up Task will appear immediately and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance and pregnancy status.

Resolution

The woman visits the health facility, gets a pregnancy test and starts ANC clinic.

Condition

Incase of a confirmed pregnancy(woman has started ANC visits) the CHW submits a Pregnancy Registration Form with gestational age and facility EDD if available.

Task

Every first day of the month, the CHW receives Pregnancy Follow-Up Task to remind that it is time to check into pregnant mother. The tasks continue for 42 weeks.

Resolution

The CHW submits Pregnancy Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she provided ANC counseling, gathered information from prior facility visits, screened for danger signs and reminded the woman of her upcoming facility ANC visit.

Condition

If the CHW notices danger signs at any time, she submits a Danger Sign Screening Form and immediately refers or accompanies the patient to the facility depending on severity.

Task

A Danger Sign Follow-Up Task will appear immediately and is due 3 days later. Tasks persist for 7 days after due date.

Resolution

CHW submits a Danger Sign Follow-Up Form, verifying that she visited the woman to confirm that she attended the facility.

Delivery workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

A currently registered pregnant person has reached a gestational age of 42 weeks and has not had a miscarriage or a delivery reported.

Task

A Delivery Task requesting that the CHW check in on the woman to see whether she has delivered. Task appears from 38 weeks.

Resolution

If the woman has delivered and is available at home, CHW submits Delivery Form, confirming the pregnancy outcomes. Profiles are created for each baby that is alive. This “ends” the pregnancy workflow.

Condition

When a woman delivers and is discharged from the health facility, a health facility staff (Site Supervisor) submits a Delivery Discharge Form.

Task

CHW receives a Delivery Report Task to inform them to visit the mother and report the delivery.

Resolution

CHW visits the mother, submits a Delivery Form, confirming the pregnancy outcomes. Profiles are created for each baby that is alive. This “ends” the pregnancy workflow.

Postnatal workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

A woman delivers and CHW submits a Delivery Report.

Task

A PNC Follow Up Task for both mother and baby appear on the 3rd and 5th day post delivery. The task is to remind the CHW to visit the postnatal mother.

Resolution

CHW visits the mother and baby, submits a PNC Follow Up Task confirming that they visited the mother and/or baby, screened for danger and reminded them of upcoming facility appointment.

Condition

If the CHW notices danger signs at any time for either mother or baby, she submits a Danger Sign Form and immediately refers to the facility depending on severity.

Task

A Danger Sign Follow-Up Task will appear within 2 days and is due 3 days later. Tasks persists for 7 days after due date.

Resolution

CHW submits a Danger Sign Follow-Up Form, verifying that she visited the woman/child to confirm that she attended the facility.

Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) workflow

This workflow is designed to support CHWs to identify symptomatic children at the household level, refer symptomatic children and conduct on-time follow ups for children through the follow up tasks

IMCI workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

CHW visits, educates, and screens under 5 for cough, diarrhea, fast breathing, fever, and fever with convulsions. CHW submits a IMCHI Screening Form and refers to the health facility if necessary.

Task

A IMCI Referral Follow-up Task will appear within 2 days and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance.

Resolution

A IMCI Referral Follow-up Form, verifying that she visited the child to confirm referral completion and offer adherence counselling or remind on upcoming appointments.

Malnutrition workflow

The workflow supports CHWs to assess and identify malnourished children, refer them to a health facility and conduct on time follow ups.

Malnutrition workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

CHW counsels and screens under 5 for malnutrition using MUAC tape and danger signs. If suspected to be malnourished, the child is referred to the health facility. CHW submits a Malnutrition Screening Form.

Task

A Malnutrition Referral Follow-up Task will appear within 2 days and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance.

Resolution

CHW submits Malnutrition Referral Follow up Form verifying that she visited the child to confirm that he was taken to health facility.

Condition

If Child is malnourished, he/she is enrolled into malnutrition program either Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) or Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP).

Task

On the first day of every month, the CHW receives Malnutrition Treatment Follow-Up Task to remind them that it is time to check on the child. The task will continue showing till CHW indicates that the child has been exited from malnutrition programme.

Resolution

The CHW submits Malnutrition Treatment Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, and reminded the caregiver of the child’s upcoming facility visit.

Family planning workflow

The FP workflow ensures that eligible women receive their FP needs with support from the CHWs. The FP workflow supports CHWs to counsel eligible women on FP, refer women to facilities for FP services screen FP clients for side effects and refer and ensure ontime FP renewals.

Family planning workflow

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

Upon discovering a woman who is not pregnant and not on FP, the CHW provides FP education, refers them to a health facility if necessary and submits a Family Planning Screening Form.

Task

A Pregnancy Confirmation and FP Follow-up Task will appear 2 days and is due 3 days later. The task reminds the CHW to confirm referral attendance and FP status.

Resolution

The woman visits the health facility and is started on FP if eligible.

Condition

A woman is found to be already on FP, the CHW records FP method, screen for side effects and counsel on adherence to method and clinic appointments.

Task

Every first day of the month, the CHW receives Family Planning Follow-Up Task to remind that it is time to check on the woman.

Resolution

The CHW submits Family Planning Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she screened for side effects, need to change FP methods, offered adherence counselling and remind the woman of her upcoming appointment.

Condition

For women on long term FP methods either IUCD or implant, the CHW records the FP expiry date.

Task

One month to the expiry date the CHW receives FP Expiry Follow-Up Task to remind the woman to renew their FP. Tasks persists for 30 days past the due date.

Resolution

CHW submits a FP Expiry Follow-Up Form, verifying that she visited the woman to confirm that she attended the facility for either renewal or change of FP method.

TB workflows

The TB workflow enables CHWs to screen patients for TB, refer suspected TB cases to senior CHW for sputum collection and follow up TB patients. Senior CHWs who are based at the community level submit the sputum collection form after collecting the sputum samples for TB testing and the Site supervisors who are based at the facility level support in notifying CHWs when the TB results are out and in tracing TB defaulters.

TB workflow for TB suspected cases identified in a community setting

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

CHW educates and screens over 5’s for TB using the cardinal signs. CHW refers any suspected person to the Senior CHW for sputum collection and submits a TB Screening Form.

Task

A Sputum Collection Task will appear immediately on the SCHW device. The task is to inform the SCHW to collect sputum from the referred person.

Resolution

SCHW submits Sputum Collection Form demonstrating that she collected the sputum from the referred person and submitted the samples to the health facility.

Condition

When the TB results are ready, a Site Supervisors who is based at the health facility submits TB Results Form detailings the TB results outcome.

Task

A TB Results Task will appear immediately on the CHW device while TB results Notification Task will appear on the SCHW device.

Resolution

The TB Results task indicates the TB results outcome: positive, negative, or rejected. The SCHW submits TB results notification form demonstrating that they have updated the TB results in the paper based cough register.

Condition

Person is found to be TB positive. CHW refers the person to the health facility for TB treatment commencement

Task

A TB Referral Follow-Up Task will appear within 2 days on the CHW device and is due 3 days later. The task is meant to inform the CHW that it’s time to follow up on the person to confirm referral attendance.

Resolution

The CHW submits TB Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she visited the person to confirm if she went to the health facility. CHW refers other household members to health facility for TB contact tracing.

TB workflow for TB confirmed cases and TB defaulters

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

Person is on started on TB treatment.

Task

A CHW visits the person daily and submits Daily Follow up Form. This will continue till the person is cured and CHW submits TB exit form.

Resolution

The CHW submits TB Daily Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person of upcoming facility visits.

Condition

A person walks into health facility without CHW referral and is enrolled into TB program. Site Supervisor submits a TB Enrollment Form indicating person has been enrolled in TB program.

Task

A TB Follow-Up Task will appear immediately on the CHW device. The task is meant to inform the CHW that the person has been enrolled in TB program and needs their follow up.

Resolution

The CHW submits TB Daily Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person of upcoming facility visits.

Condition

A TB Client defaults on their clinic visit. Site Supervisor submits Trace Report indicating the missed visit details.

Task

A TRACE Follow-Up Task will appear immediately on the CHW device. The task is meant to inform the CHW that the person missed their clinic visit.

Resolution

The CHW submits TRACE Follow-Up Form demonstrating that she visited the TB patient and encouraged them to visit the health facility.

Non communicable diseases workflow

The non communicable diseases workflows support health care workers to screen for NCD symptoms, refer suspected cases to facilities and trace clients who have defaulted treatment.

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

CHW educates and screens over 5’s for NCD symptoms. CHW refers any suspected person to the health facility and submits a NCD Screening Form.

Task

A NCD referral Follow-up Task will appear within 2 ays and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance.

Resolution

CHW submits NCD Referral Follow-up Form verifying that she visited the person to confirm that he went to the health facility.

Condition

Person is to found to have either NCD (hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, mental health or heart failure) and is enrolled into NCD program.

Task

Every first day of the month, CHW receives NCD Monthly Treatment Follow-up Task to remind the CHW it’s time to check on the person.

Resolution

The CHW submits NCD Monthly Treatment Follow-up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person of upcoming facility visits.

Condition

A person walks into health facility without CHW referral and is enrolled into NCD program. Site Supervisor submits a Treatment Enrollment Form indicating person has been enrolled in NCD program.

Task

A NCD Monthly Treatment Follow-up Task will appear immediately on the CHW device. The task is meant to inform the CHW that the person has been enrolled in NCD program and needs their follow up.

Resolution

The CHW submits Monthly Treatment Follow-up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person upcoming facility visits.
Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

If NCD patient reports danger sign during the follow ups, the CHW immediately refers or accompanies the patient to the facility depending on severity of the danger sign.

Task

A NCD Danger Signs Follow-up Task will appear within 2 days and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance.

Resolution

The CHW submits a NCD Danger Sign Follow-up Form verifying that she visited the NCD patient to confirm that she attended the facility.

Condition

A NCD Client defaults on their clinic visit. Site Supervisor submits Trace Report indicating the missed visit details.

Task

A TRACE Follow-up Task will appear immediately on the CHW device. The task is meant to inform the CHW that the person missed their clinic visit.

Resolution

The CHW submits TRACE Follow-up Form demonstrating that she visited the NCD patient and encouraged them to visit the health facility.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus workflow

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) workflow is designed to guide CHWs in HIV screening of household members, screening for side effects for persons on antiretroviral treatment and CHWs can use the workflows to trace defaulters who are on ART treatment.

Condition

Condition

Task

Task

Resolution

Resolution

Condition

CHW educates and screens over 5’s for duration since last HIV test. CHW refers any eligible person to the health facility and submits a HIV Screening Form.

Task

A HIV testing referral Follow-up Task will appear within 2 days and is due 3 days later. The task is to remind the CHW to confirm referral attendance and HIV testing status.

Resolution

CHW submits HIV Testing Referral Follow-up Form verifying that she visited the person to confirm that he went to the health facility.

Condition

If person tests HIV positive, he/she is enrolled into HIR/ART program and started on treatment.

Task

In the first year of treatment, the CHW visits the person daily and submits Daily Follow up Form.

Resolution

The CHW submits Daily Follow-up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person of upcoming facility visits.

Condition

A person walks into health facility without CHW referral and is enrolled into ART program. Site Supervisor submits a Treatment Enrollment Form indicating person has been enrolled in ART program.

Task

A HIV Daily Follow-up Task will appear immediately on the CHW device. The task is meant to inform the CHW that the person has been enrolled in NCD program and needs their follow up.

Resolution

The CHW submits Daily Follow-up Form demonstrating that she provided adherence counselling, screened for danger signs/side effects and reminded the person upcoming facility visits.

Resources to Get Started

Here are a few additional resources to help get you started with the integrated health reference application.

The open sharing of digital health apps used by CHWs is a monumental milestone in the digital health space, and for the CHT Community. Reach out on the forum to share how you will leverage these resources, along with your feedback and continued innovations that could benefit the larger community.