When ASHAs were introduced in NRHM in 2005, one of their primary mandates were to visit homes of newborns as the first program and counsel and deliver relevant messages as envisaged under the Comprehensive Child Survival Program (CCSP) way back in 2008 in Uttar Pradesh. Since then, tracking of all the deliveries and the related messages given by ASHAs on newborn care to mothers during pregnancy and in the first month after delivery are an integral part of the work of ASHAs in all the primary health care programs operated by the NHM in UP. The current study explores some of the crucial variables of the targeted activities of the ASHAs in type of message delivery on newborn care in four districts of UP. Through this profile, the content and type of messages given by ASHAs in their coverage area is tracked for pregnant women and mothers of newborns. These include both institutional and home deliveries covered by ASHAs through home visits. Further, this also includes number of deliveries escorted by ASHAs in the last 3 months prior to the survey and the number of newborns that they covered through home visits. The relevance of the study assumes significance as data on the details of activities like the content, timing and quality of messages delivered by ASHAs during third trimester birth-planning and post-partum home visits as per the HBNC guidelines are usually not available in various studies available in the public domain. A total of four districts of Uttar Pradesh were selected using purposive sampling for the study and the data collection was conducted in the selected villages of the respective districts using a pre-tested structured questionnaire with both close-ended and open-ended questions. In addition, in-depth interviews were also conducted amongst the ASHAs and a total 250 respondents had participated in the study. The content of message deliveries by ASHAs in the 4 districts in their catchment area was assessed. Most of the ASHAs in all the districts except Saharanpur gave the messages on exclusive breast feeding to both the category of mothers. The newborn care message was better delivered in Saharanpur district as compared to the remaining three districts. Similarly, except Saharanpur where half of the mothers received gender related message on newborn care, the situation was very poor in the rest three districts. This reflects the urgent need to reorient ASHAs on the essential birth-planning and newborn care messages using the structured mentoring and coaching approach, both, onsite/in-field and facility based by the supportive supervision structure of ASHA Sanginis, ANMs and Medical Officers for better adherence on delivery of the content, timing and quality of messages on newborn care to the prospective and lactating mothers in the community.
ASHA, JSY, CCSP, Sanginis, Neonants, HBNC
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development - IJTSRD having
online ISSN 2456-6470. IJTSRD is a leading Open Access, Peer-Reviewed International
Journal which provides rapid publication of your research articles and aims to promote
the theory and practice along with knowledge sharing between researchers, developers,
engineers, students, and practitioners working in and around the world in many areas
like Sciences, Technology, Innovation, Engineering, Agriculture, Management and
many more and it is recommended by all Universities, review articles and short communications
in all subjects. IJTSRD running an International Journal who are proving quality
publication of peer reviewed and refereed international journals from diverse fields
that emphasizes new research, development and their applications. IJTSRD provides
an online access to exchange your research work, technical notes & surveying results
among professionals throughout the world in e-journals. IJTSRD is a fastest growing
and dynamic professional organization. The aim of this organization is to provide
access not only to world class research resources, but through its professionals
aim to bring in a significant transformation in the real of open access journals
and online publishing.