A STUDY ON THE KNOWLEDGE PRACTICE GAP OF ASHAS ABOUT HER WORK PROFILE FROM NORTHERN INDIA

YADUVIR SINGH; ARKA MONDAL; AVINASH SURANA; SUNIL KUMAR; ABHISHEK SINGH

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i11.45976

Authors

YADUVIR SINGH Field Hospital Care of Agra Cantt, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
ARKA MONDAL Department of Pharmacology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India. 3
AVINASH SURANA Meerut Cantt, Uttar Pradesh, India.
SUNIL KUMAR Department of Community Medicine, Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
ABHISHEK SINGH Department of Community Medicine, SHKM Government Medical College, Mewat, Haryana, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8310-5996

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i11.45976

Keywords:

Accredited social health activist, Knowledge, Responsibilities

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to study the knowledge practice gap of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) about her work profile from northern India.

Methods: The study was carried out between June 2021 and November 2021. The study comprised all 97 local ASHA employees, who were all questioned using a self-made semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: Data were collected from 94 ASHA workers. 91 (96.8%) of ASHA workers completed 8th standard or more of schooling. 92 (97.87%) of ASHA workers completed training before working as ASHA. Almost all the study subjects had knowledge about immunization activities, accompanying delivery cases, and participation in family planning activities. Very few ASHAs knew that active participation in village health planning, providing counseling to the residents on various health issues and addressing adolescence health issues with residents of the village were part of her work profile. Drug kit stock register, format for individual birth preparedness plans, format for first examination of the new born, and home visit form for high risk baby were relatively deficient with respect to their maintenance and completeness.

Conclusion: ASHAs do offer a variety of services and have the ability to contribute to the provision of primary healthcare, but they must still put their knowledge to use when offering services and/or advise to negotiate access to healthcare for underprivileged women and children.

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Author Biographies

YADUVIR SINGH, Field Hospital Care of Agra Cantt, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Commanding Officer, Field Hospital care of Agra Cantt 282001

AVINASH SURANA, Meerut Cantt, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Deputy Assistant Director Health (DADH), Meerut Cantt 250001

SUNIL KUMAR, Department of Community Medicine, Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine

ABHISHEK SINGH, Department of Community Medicine, SHKM Government Medical College, Mewat, Haryana, India.

Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine

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