Knowledge Status of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) of Jaipur City
Abstract
Government of India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on 12th April 2005, to provide accessible, accountable, affordable, effective and reliable primary health care, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population. And ASHAs are a ‘bridge’ or an interface between the community and health service outlets. NHM set some standard for ASHAs. So this study was conducted to assess the knowledge of ASHA of Jaipur city. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 172 ASHAs working in Jaipur city. In the present study, all the ASHAs know their role about Immunization, Ante Natal Care and to inform Sub Centre/PHC/CHC about births and deaths in the village & outbreak of health problem/disease in the community. The majority (>80%) ASHAs knew their role in Post Natal Check-up, counseling women for Birth preparedness, safe delivery, exclusive Breast feeding, complementary feeding, Personal hygiene and sanitation. Promoting hand washing after toilet and before food handling was known to 153 (88.95%) of ASHAs. It was concluded from the study that majority of ASHAs know their role and details of their practices in all expected field except regarding basic sanitation and hygiene. Knowledge of ASHAs regarding their role about basic sanitation and hygiene of community i.e. to 19.19% of ASHAs only. Likewise regarding promote construction of toilet was also known to only 17.44% of ASHAs. Even only 37.79% of ASHAs knew about immunization may be given in mild fever.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
Government of India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on 12th April 2005, to provide accessible, accountable, affordable, effective and reliable primary health care, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population.1,2
One of the key strategies under the NRHM is having a community health worker who is an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) for every village with a population of 1000. These ASHA workers should preferably be female, in the 25-45 years age group and have a qualification of at least eighth class.3
Conclusion
It was concluded from the study that majority of ASHAs know their role and details of their practices in all expected field except regarding basic sanitation and hygiene. Knowledge of ASHAs regarding their role about basic sanitation and hygiene of community i.e. to 19.19% of ASHAs only. Likewise regarding promote construction of toilet was also known to only 17.44% of ASHAs. Even only 37.79% of ASHAs knew about immunization may be given in mild fever.