Assessment of knowledge of accredited social health activists regarding antenatal & neonatal care in a block of Haryana

Abstract

Improving maternal & child health has been an essential tool for achieving health for all. The discourse on the Accredited Social Health Activist’s (ASHA’s) role centers around three typologies -as an activist, as a link worker or facilitator, and as a community level health care provider.To assess knowledge of ASHA workers regarding antenatal and neonatal care in a block of Haryana. The present cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted in block Barwala, district Hisar of Haryana. Universal sampling technique was used. A predesigned, pretested, semi-structured schedule was used to collect the information, which included details of socio-demographic profile of ASHA workers and questions about knowledge of antenatal & postnatal care. Appropriate statistical tests like frequencies and percentages test were applied to analyze the collected data.Only 6.9% ASHA workers told about benefits of early registration of pregnancy. Majority of ASHA workers had inadequate knowledge about identification of danger signs during pregnancy and infancy, duration of trimester. Majority of ASHA workers had adequate knowledge about breast-feeding practices however about half of ASHA workers had inadequate knowledge about duration of colostrum. Only about one third ASHA workers had adequate knowledge regarding weighing machine & colour zone used for identify malnutrition.: It is important to reorient ASHA workers at field level and supportive supervision also plays an important role.