Characteristics of included articles
| Study | Objective of the study | Methods of data collection | Data analysis methods | Study country | Study setting (rural/urban) | Number of CHWs by gender |
| Musabyimana et al48 | To examine perceptions of CHWs and others regarding RapidSMS Rwanda, an mHealth system | FGD (10) and IDI (28) | Thematic content analysis | Rwanda | Rural | 36 (33 females and 3 males) |
| Okuga et al49 | To explore CHWs understanding of promoting MCH practices and factors that influence their performance | FGD (4) and IDI (34) | Thematic content analysis | Uganda | Rural and urban | 32 (both genders, not disaggregated) |
| Naidoo et al50 | To examine the training needs of CHWs working in the field of childhood disorders and disabilities to improve the future training of CHWs and service delivery | 5 FGD (5) and 4 IDI (4) | Thematic content analysis | South Africa | Urban | 28 (females) |
| Dillip et al51 | To explore barriers and enablers to increasing timely access to care by linking the three levels of healthcare provision | FGD (5) and IDI (96) | Thematic content analysis | Tanzania | Rural and urban | 45 (females) |
| Jackson and Hailemariam52 | To examine the barriers and facilitators for CHWs as they refer women to mid-level health facilities for birth | IDIs (59) | Thematic content analysis | Rural | 59 (females) | |
| Giugliani et al53 | To assess implementation process of CHWs programme in Angola | Mixed method, FGD (6) and 9 IDI (9) | Thematic content analysis | Angola | Urban/Municipal | 48 (both genders, not disaggregated) |
| Kok et al54 | To examine the relationships between CHWs, the community and health sector in order to inform policy in providing maternal health services | FGD (14) and IDI (44) | Theme content analysis | Ethiopia | Rural | 69 (females) |
| Mwendwa55 | To explore potential for mHealth technologies to support CHWs in delivering basic maternal and newborn services; examines the challenges and opportunities faced by CHWs who use a mHealth tool, RapidSMS in Rwanda | FGD (14) | Thematic network analysis | Rwanda | Rural | 98 (females) |
| Ludwick et al56 | To examine a qualitative evaluative framework and tool to assess CHW team performance in a district programme in rural Uganda | FGD (8) | Thematic content analysis | Uganda | Rural | 64 (both genders, not disaggregated) |
CHW, community health worker; FGD, focus group discussion; IDI, in-depth interviews; MCH, maternal and child health; mHealth, mobile health.