Assessment of happiness among ASHAs, the grass root level health workers in post-COVID era in Eastern India: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The happiness of healthcare professionals is said to be positively affecting the quality of health care and the services provided by them. Presently, our country and its health care has been recovering from the brunt of COVID pandemic. Amid these changing circumstances, this study intends to assess the happiness among the key grassroot level workers, ASHAs in the post-COVID era and the factors affecting their happiness, as happiness is often put forward as one of the driving forces to peoples’ choices and actions. Methods: A modified short version of Oxford happiness questionnaire was used to assess the happiness among the ASHAs selected through multistage sampling and interviewed to assess the facilitators and barriers to their happiness. Results: Of the 112 ASHAs interviewed, 61.6% were happy, while 38.4% were unhappy. The variables like having commitment to work, mental alertness and ability to find beauty in many natural things had universal agreement, while not feeling healthy, or whether they find time for everything wanted have disagreement. Almost 87.5% felt they were not especially control of their lives and 41% were not being well satisfied with everything in life. The factors facilitating happiness were professional pride, altruism, quality of life, and major barriers identified were inadequate rest, imbalance in work-life, family issues, etc. Conclusions: Positive reinforcement in terms of better workplace environment, time management skill enhancement, to strike a better work-life balance to ensure a happier version of themselves.