Last updated September 9, 2026
Key finding
Adherence to weight management was 70% in the intervention group compared to 40% in the control group.
This study evaluated a community health worker-led health literacy intervention aimed at improving adherence to lifestyle changes and medication in diabetes and hypertension patients in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
This study evaluated a community health worker-led health literacy intervention aimed at improving adherence to lifestyle changes and medication in diabetes and hypertension patients in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Improving adherence to lifestyle changes and medication is crucial for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. This study highlights the effectiveness of community health workers in enhancing health literacy and patient engagement, which can lead to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Such interventions could be vital in resource-limited settings where access to healthcare professionals is limited.
The study's generalizability may be limited to similar populations. Potential biases in self-reported adherence measures. The long-term sustainability of the intervention effects is unknown.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Nyaradzai AK, Shepherd S, Golden TF, Justen M, Simbarashe R. The effectiveness of a community health worker-led health literacy intervention on adherence to lifestyle modifications and medication among diabetes and hypertension patients in Harare, Zimbabwe: a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Primary Care. 2026;27:223. doi:10.1186/s12875-026-03335-0
Adherence to weight management was 70% in the intervention group compared to 40% in the control group.
Adherence to low-salt diet was 65% in the intervention group compared to 36% in the control group.
Medication adherence was 59% in the intervention group compared to 36% in the control group.
Evidence network
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
This study contributes evidence to CHW-led health literacy intervention and Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14, Adherence to alcohol moderation, Adherence to non-smoking, and 7 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
CHW-led health literacy intervention
Primary outcomes
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
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Related topics
10
Evidence pairs
1074
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Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_outcome
Related evidence
Evidence topic
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Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to alcohol moderation
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to alcohol moderation
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to non-smoking
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to non-smoking
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to weight management
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Adherence to weight management
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Blood glucose
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Blood glucose
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Control of blood pressure below 140/80 mm Hg
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Control of blood pressure below 140/80 mm Hg
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Fruit and vegetable intake
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Fruit and vegetable intake
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Medication adherence
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Medication adherence
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Sweet taste detection thresholds
CHW-led health literacy intervention → Sweet taste detection thresholds
Evidence Library
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on CHW-led health literacy intervention and Adherence to alcohol moderation, CHW-led health literacy intervention and Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Adherence to alcohol moderation
Measures Adherence to alcohol moderation as a key outcome.
All studies measuring Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14
Measures Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14 as a key outcome.
All studies measuring Adherence to weight management
Measures Adherence to weight management as a key outcome.
All studies on CHW-led health literacy intervention
Contributes to CHW-led health literacy intervention evidence base.
Latest published studies
Published within the last 2 years.
Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
CHW-led health literacy intervention appears to improve adherence to mediterranean diet measured using medas-14.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Adherence to Mediterranean diet measured using MEDAS-14
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
CHW-led health literacy intervention appears to improve adherence to alcohol moderation.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Adherence to alcohol moderation
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
CHW-led health literacy intervention appears to improve adherence to weight management.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Adherence to weight management
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
CHW-led health literacy intervention appears to improve fruit and vegetable intake.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Fruit and vegetable intake
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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