ASSESSMENT OF THE FUNCTIONING OF ASHAS UNDER NRHM IN THE BLOCK MENDHAR DISTRICT POONCH JAMMU AND KASHMIR

The study was conducted to knowing ASHA functioning status regarding maternal 
and child health and evaluate impact on JSY. The study was conducted in the Block Mendhar 
District Poonch Jammu and Kashmir using purposive sampling technique in 2 months 
duration. ASHAs were included who had been active in the field for more than six month 
since the date of survey started. Women were included in the study who has given a live birth 
within last 6 month’s & whose child is still alive who were on breastfeeding. In our study 
antenatal registration by ASHAs were found only 43% while all the beneficiaries were helped 
in registration for JSY scheme, explained about transport assistance benefits & helped them 
to reach hospital. Eighty eight(88%) percent ASHAs were present with them at the time of 
delivery and 93 percent beneficiaries ASHA helped them in getting JSY benefits. However in 
case of postnatal checkups only 33.33% ASHAs were found active. Level of knowledge and 
work performance was found in ASHAs respectively 50.85(±20.97) and 57.58(±18.90), that 
was statistically significant (<0.01). Observation of our study point towards better maternal 
and child health care in the area, which can be attributed to institutional delivery of pregnant 
mother related with significant monetary incentives.