Knowledge, skills of female health workers regarding selected non communicable diseases risk reduction and client satisfaction: a pilot study from western part of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Background: The increasing burden of Non communicable diseases calls for added role on the part of health professionals. The female Health workers being the closest to population play an important role in alleviating the problem to great extent. Objective of this study was to assess the Knowledge, and skills of female health workers (FHWs) regarding selected non communicable diseases risk reduction and the client satisfaction with NCD skill services performed by FHWs.Methods: This study was undertaken at selected health centres of Jodhpur. FHWs working at these centres and women receiving health services from FHWs were recruited for the study. Data were collected using predesigned NCD knowledge questionnaire, skill checklist and client satisfaction scale. Method of data collection were paper pencil questionnaire, observation and interview. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated to summarize demographics and key variables.Results: Nearly 24% and 35% of FHWs had average knowledge regarding HTN/ diabetes, breast and cervical cancer respectively. 47% of subjects had good level of knowledge regarding mental health. Most of FHWs (77%) had adequate BP measurement and RBS testing skills. Majority had inadequate breast examination and waist circumference measurement skills. Level of knowledge related to hypertension and diabetes were found to be significantly associated with NCD training of health workers in past (p level=0.03). Nearly 67% of the women were satisfied with the NCD health services provided by FHWs.Conclusions: Overall FHWs had average level of awareness regarding different NCDs’ prevention and control. Routine skills pertaining to NCDs screening methods such as BP and blood glucose measurement were adequate among FHWs. Overall women were satisfied with the NCD related health services provided by FHWs. Being an important concern there is need to plan refresher training programs for these health workers so that their services can be effectively utilized for prevention and control of NCDs.

Capacity building among frontline health workers (FHWs) in screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs): Findings of an implementation study from Bihar, India

“…We observed that 75% of the ANMs of our study demonstrated satisfactory to excellent proficiency in RBS measurement, which was in line with the observations of Nebhinani et al [9] (76.5%). Concerning BP measurement, the skill level of ANMs (58.3%) in the present study was quite less compared to Nebhinani et al [9] (76.5%). The variability of observations might have been incurred due to differences in study settings, study subjects, checklist used for ascertainment of skill adequacy, etc.…”

“…In the present study, 92.3%, 100.0% and 58.3% of the ANMs showed satisfactory to excellent proficiency in weight, height and WC measurement, respectively, which were more compared to the observations of Nebhinani et al [9] , where 64.7%, 58.3% and 5.9% of the front-line workers (FLWs) demonstrated adequate skills for the same, respectively. We observed that 75% of the ANMs of our study demonstrated satisfactory to excellent proficiency in RBS measurement, which was in line with the observations of Nebhinani et al [9] (76.5%). Concerning BP measurement, the skill level of ANMs (58.3%) in the present study was quite less compared to Nebhinani et al [9] (76.5%).…”

“…Additionally, FHWs are expected to counsel a diagnosed NCD patient regarding the importance of adoption of a healthy lifestyle, medication adherence and doctor consultation [6] – [8] . Despite this, variable knowledge (41.2–100.0%) and skill (23.5–94.1%) related to NCDs among FHWs has been documented by prior studies in this regard [9] , [10] . Moreover, what was more concerning is that only 1.1% of rural and 2.3% of urban public health facilities of NPCDCS implementing districts reported having adequate infrastructure and logistic supply to provide NCD care [11] .…”

Perception of mucormycosis infection among Bangladeshi healthcare workers: an exploratory cross-sectional study in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic

“…A previous survey of COVID-19 indicated that the perception of female healthcare workers was more adequate than that of male healthcare workers (Almohammed et al 2021 ). Moreover, Nebhinani and Saini revealed that female healthcare workers more strongly perceived NCD (non-communicable disease) related information (Nebhinani and Saini 2020 ).…”

Knowledge of behavioural risk factors for types 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Arba Minch town, Gamo zone, 2022

“…This might be due to less information dissemination concerning T2DM and the difference in the study population in which the study was conducted among subjects with diabetes and their family members. On the other hand, this result is higher than the study conducted in Stalowa Wola, Poland [30%] (29), Saudi Arabia 29.6% -42.6 % (30, 31), 25.4 % in rural Tanzania (61), 19.6% in south western Nigeria (15), Indian western Rajasthan [17.6%] (32), Bangladesh [13%] (18), 17.3% in Mekele and 5 % in West Go jam (33, 34), Nepal [5.5-20%] (21, 35), and Japan [2.47%] (36). This inconsistency might be due to the sociocultural difference between the populations.…”