A study on the work profile of ASHA workers in a district of Odisha in eastern India

Background: Our aim was to study the socio demographic determinants of ASHA workers, to study the work profile of the ASHA workers, to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice of their roles and responsibilities in the delivery of health care services and to suggest specific recommendations on the ASHA scheme based on the study findings.Methods: The type of study was a cross sectional study, placed at Khordha district in Odisha. Time Period of this study was March to June 2018. 1218 ASHAs were finally included in the study. On the days of the monthly sector / block level meetings with ASHA workers they were appraised and accordingly a predesigned, pretested questionnaire was implemented to them.Results: Nearly 93% of ASHA workers were trained with module 1 to 5, first AID and DOTs training. Refresher training was given to 34% of ASHA workers, FTD/Malaria training was given to 88.4% of ASHA workers. 1218 (100%) ASHA’s helped in immunization. Majority of them 1199 (98.4%) accompanied delivery cases and 1198 (98.3%) were aware about family planning activities.Conclusions: Activities of ASHA’s should be increased with a corresponding increase in incentives, so that she can get up to Rs. 10000-15000 per month. IEC/BCC skills to ASHA may be built by short course certification. Other services like strengthening the role of ASHA on promotive and preventive health care particularly age at marriage, nutrition, home based care delay in first child birth and spacing between 1st and 2nd birth.