A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge and Practices of Asha Towards Maternal Health Care in Rural Field Practice Area of PHC Kalyanpur, Bihar
Authors/Creators
- 1. Junior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar- 846003, India
- 2. Associate Professor & HOD, Department of Community Medicine, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar- 846003, India
- 3. Assiatant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar- 846003, India
Description
Background: ASHAs are essential to the success of NHM in India since they are the ones who are on the front lines. In order to provide maternal health services to the community, it is vital to ascertain whether they possess the requisite abilities and procedures. In order to make any necessary adjustments, it is crucial to discuss these worries and learn how people feel about the training component. A research to assess the abilities and strategies employed by ASHAs working in the catchment area was studied in the rural field practice area of the Darbhanga Medical College at PHC Kalyanpur, Samastipur, Bihar, to evaluate ASHA knowledge and practices, as well as the gaps between them, regarding maternal health care during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the rural field practice area of PHC Kalyanpur from January 2021 to December 2022. All 340 mothers and the 68 ASHAs that were chosen were personally contacted. All of the participants were first briefed on the study’s objectives and asked for consent after being briefed on their part in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire that had been pre-tested was used to conduct one-on-one interviews to assess knowledge of each ASHA. Through one-on-one interviews with chosen beneficiary women, the practices of ASHA regarding the delivery of maternal health services were evaluated. Results: 28% of the participating ASHAs have finished eighth grade, while 61% of them were qualified more than tenth grade and 11% of them were graduate. 44% had experience of at least 15 years and 9% of the participants had fewer than ten years of experience. 75% of ASHA support early registration of expectant mothers at a nearby PHC before the third month of pregnancy. 14.70% of the ASHAs were aware of three danger signs of pregnancy namely swelling of legs, convulsions, high blood pressure and none of them knew how high blood pressure impacts the growth of the foetus. The majority of ASHA staff 60.30% advocated for a routine checkup within two weeks of delivery, whereas the remaining 39.70% either were unaware of it. Conclusion: The majority of ASHA staff, according to the aforementioned survey, has average expertise, which requires continuous revision and updating. ASHA employees were highly knowledgeable about prenatal care, with the exception of anaemia throughout pregnancy. They guided well about the public sector’s prenatal, antenatal, and intranatal care services. The vast majority of women were utterly pleased with the antenatal services offered by ASHA. In order for the ASHAs to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills with the most recent improvements, they should be undergoing on-the-job training.
Abstract (English)
Background: ASHAs are essential to the success of NHM in India since they are the ones who are on the front lines. In order to provide maternal health services to the community, it is vital to ascertain whether they possess the requisite abilities and procedures. In order to make any necessary adjustments, it is crucial to discuss these worries and learn how people feel about the training component. A research to assess the abilities and strategies employed by ASHAs working in the catchment area was studied in the rural field practice area of the Darbhanga Medical College at PHC Kalyanpur, Samastipur, Bihar, to evaluate ASHA knowledge and practices, as well as the gaps between them, regarding maternal health care during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the rural field practice area of PHC Kalyanpur from January 2021 to December 2022. All 340 mothers and the 68 ASHAs that were chosen were personally contacted. All of the participants were first briefed on the study’s objectives and asked for consent after being briefed on their part in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire that had been pre-tested was used to conduct one-on-one interviews to assess knowledge of each ASHA. Through one-on-one interviews with chosen beneficiary women, the practices of ASHA regarding the delivery of maternal health services were evaluated. Results: 28% of the participating ASHAs have finished eighth grade, while 61% of them were qualified more than tenth grade and 11% of them were graduate. 44% had experience of at least 15 years and 9% of the participants had fewer than ten years of experience. 75% of ASHA support early registration of expectant mothers at a nearby PHC before the third month of pregnancy. 14.70% of the ASHAs were aware of three danger signs of pregnancy namely swelling of legs, convulsions, high blood pressure and none of them knew how high blood pressure impacts the growth of the foetus. The majority of ASHA staff 60.30% advocated for a routine checkup within two weeks of delivery, whereas the remaining 39.70% either were unaware of it. Conclusion: The majority of ASHA staff, according to the aforementioned survey, has average expertise, which requires continuous revision and updating. ASHA employees were highly knowledgeable about prenatal care, with the exception of anaemia throughout pregnancy. They guided well about the public sector’s prenatal, antenatal, and intranatal care services. The vast majority of women were utterly pleased with the antenatal services offered by ASHA. In order for the ASHAs to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills with the most recent improvements, they should be undergoing on-the-job training.
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IJPCR,Vol15,Issue6,Article281.pdf
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2023-05-05
Software
- Repository URL
- https://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPCR/15/IJPCR,Vol15,Issue6,Article281.pdf
- Development Status
- Active
References
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