Appraisal of knowledge of ASHA regarding child health services provided under NHM in Bhojipura block, District Bareilly

Abstract

Background: One of the key strategies under the National Rural Health Mission 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. The knowledge about health services of ASHA is crucial for the success of National Health Mission. Methods: A cross sectional study was planned in Bhojipura village. Total 48 villages ASHAs were interviewed using predesigned semi-structured questionnaire including brief socio-demographic information of ASHA along with details of their knowledge regarding child care. Results: Out of 64 ASHA, 25 (39.15) ASHA told that new-born babies given bath immediately after birth. 40 (62.5%) ASHA replied that nothing should be applied on umbilical stump of new-born. Mostly 62 (96.9%) ASHA knew that breastfeeding should be given first to the new-born and 61 (95.3%) ASHA were known that breastfeeding should be initiated within one hour of delivery. Conclusions: Majority of ASHAs know their role and details of their practices in new-born and child care except bathing of new born and additional supplements.

Knowledge of ASHA workers about maternal and child health services in Mysuru

“…Only half of them (50.8%) responded there should be exclusive breastfeeding till six months after birth. In a study conducted by Saxena et al they found that only 23% of them knew about exclusive breastfeeding until six months after delivery [11].…”

Assessment of knowledge and practices of ASHA workers related to maternal-child health and their performance affecting factors: A mixed method study in Deganga block, North 24 parganas district, West Bengal, India

“…The figures were either equal or higher than the previous studies. 7,8,[11][12][13] As there was no new recruitment, with time and repeated training in between they were becoming more experienced and that might be the cause of their better knowledge. But this study found that only 34.21% had correct knowledge of updated IFA tablet dosage which was rather lower than that found by Choudary M et al Though they had poor knowledge about ECP, majority (56.84% and 70%) knew correctly about OCP and ideal time of IUCD insertion which showed a trend of improvement in their knowledge than found by Das A et al 5,10 Regarding practices, most of the beneficiary mothers (73.68 % and 84.21 %) were informed by ASHA workers about availability of JSY monitory support and JSSK transport support during institution deliveries.…”

“…Several studies had been conducted in India on evaluation of their works, but in context of West Bengal there are scarcity of such researches specifically on maternal and child health domain. [5][6][7][8] Therefore, the current study had been taken up to assess the knowledge and practices of ASHA workers related to maternal-child health and family planning and to find out their performance affecting factors in a rural block of West Bengal.…”

A study on evaluation of ASHAs for their knowledge, attitude and practice towards newborn care in Howrah district of West Bengal

“…Study conducted by Saxena S et al found that mostly 96.9% ASHA knew that breastfeeding should be given first to the new-born and 95.3% ASHA were known that breastfeeding should be initiated within one hour of delivery and 71.9%. 7 A study done by Paul, the knowledge of ASHAs about initiation of breastfeeding within an hour; feeding colostrum; avoiding pre-lacteal feeds and exclusive breastfeeding for six months was reported by 96 percent, 99 percent, 92 per cent and 98 percent of ASHAs. 10 On the other hand to this Shashank et al reported that 87.1% of ASHA educate about breastfeeding to the mother before the delivery and 100% of them educate the mother and advocated breastfeeding to the new born as soon as possible after delivery.…”

“…In a study conducted by Saxena S et al found that 67.2% of ASHA replied that first visit should be conducted within one week of delivery followed by within 24 hour of delivery by 28.1% and no visit by 4.7% ASHA. 7 Kohli in their study concluded that only 67.3% ASHA workers reported that they used to visit the newborn in their area within a week of birth. 8 Another study carried out in Uttar Pradesh by Kansal et al found that 82% of ASHA workers used to visit newborns in the area.…”