Designing Virtual Communities of Practice for Community Health Workers: Insights from Rural India

In the Global South, severe shortages in healthcare professionals mean that community health workers (CHWs) play a significant role in supporting individuals unable to access primary healthcare. However, the nature of their work means they have limited medical resources, inadequate training, and minimal support. We collaborated with a major Indian health network to investigate how a virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) could address the distinctive challenges faced by CHWs around professional support and development. This paper examines our design and deployment of a VCoP involving 30 CHWs in training. Our findings illuminate complex cultural perceptions and preferences surrounding peer learning, while revealing the challenges of integrating digital platforms in contexts marked by heterogeneous digital literacy levels. We contribute design considerations for VCoPs that address systemic, interpersonal, and technological dimensions of peer learning, underscoring the necessity for structured, methodical approaches to supporting CHWs in global health settings.