Assessment of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) Regarding Their Roles and Responsibilities in Selected Villages of a District in India: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Vaccination in children against vaccine preventable diseases is an important public healthintervention. ASHAs are receiving performance-based incentives for promoting universal immunisation. A recent local outbreak of Measles in two health Blocks of Rajouri district prompted us to conduct this study. The objectives of this study were to study the awareness and perception of ASHAs regarding their roles and responsibility in delivering routine immunization services to children and to study the factors affecting their performance in delivery of routine immunization services to children.Methods: It was a qualitative study; non-probability sampling method was used for selection of subjects. Data was collected through interview and analysed using thematic framework approach.Conclusion: The study revealed that ASHAs were aware of their roles and responsibilities except few in delivery of routine immunization services to children. Delayed and Poor incentives, Lack of proper transport and hilly area were the demotivating factors. Support from community members and Health Staff, and Supportive supervision were the motivating factors for ASHAs in delivery of routine immunization service to children. Periodic training, better and timely incentives and proper transportation for ASHAs are required to augment the immunization service delivery to the children.