Assessment of knowledge of ASHAs, regarding child health services in Block Mullana, Ambala, Haryana

Abstract

Background: National Health Mission (NHM) has created a cadre of trained female community health activists called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to mobilize the community toward increased utilization of existing health services. ASHAs play an important role in the rollout of government health programs.
Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of trained ASHAs regarding MCH Services and to determine the association of various factors with the level of knowledge of ASHA workers about Child Health services.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 ASHA workers of Community health centre (CHC) Mullana, Ambala, Haryana from January to December 2021. The semi-structured self-administered questionnaire formulated based on the ASHA modules and translated into Hindi was used for data collection. Descriptive data was analysed by using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Finally, Chi-square test was used to establish association between the knowledge and various factors affecting it. P < 0.05 was considered significant at 95% confidence interval.
Results: Out of 130 ASHAs interviewed, 125 (96.2%) ASHAs had proper knowledge about exclusive breast feeding and the duration, 128 (98.5%) told colostrum is necessary to the baby. 129 (99.2%) ASHAs had correct knowledge regarding schedule of immunization. 120 (92.3%) ASHAs could tell when the weaning should be started correctly and 128 (98.5%) ASHAs had knew about correct positioning of mother and child during breastfeeding,123(93.60%) ASHA workers had knowledge that nothing should be applied on umbilical cord stump of new born.
Conclusion: Generally, knowledge of ASHAs about child health care was considerably good. However, knowledge of ASHAs about when to start breastfeeding was found to be inadequate.