Knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Workers Regarding Maternal Health Services: A Comparative Study between Rural and Urban Areas of a Block of Haryana

Abstract

Introduction: All people, everywhere, deserve the right care, right in their community. In any community,maternal mortality ratio strongly reflects the overall effectiveness of health systems. To increase utilization of existing health services, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) is the key component of the National Rural Health Mission. The present study was planned with objective-to assess & compare the level of knowledge of ASHA workers regarding maternal health services in between rural and urban areas of a block of Haryana. Method: The present cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted in block Barwala, district Hisar of Haryana. The assessment of knowledge of ASHA workers was done on the basis of scoring. Appropriate statistical tests like percentages and chi-square (χ2) test were applied. Result: Regarding maternal health services majority of ASHA workers had good knowledge, assessed by score gained by them and none of them was having poor knowledge about maternal health services. However in rural area score gained was better than urban area & the observed difference was found to be statistically significant. Knowledge of identification & treatment of anaemia and identification of danger signs during pregnancy were inadequate among ASHA workers of both areas. Conclusion: Knowledge of ASHA workers was inadequate as far as anaemia and danger signs during pregnancy were concerned. Frequent and regular refresher training should be organized in their working area.