ABSTRACT
Background: ASHA is a health activist in the communities who creates awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilizes the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of the existing health services. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the work performance of ASHAs in tribal and remote rural areas in Kurnool division of Kurnool district.Methods: This is a community based observational and cross sectional study carried out from July 2014 to July 2015. Six PHCs of Atmakur CHNC namely Kottalcheruvu, Bairluty, Kothapally, Yerramattam, Gokavaram, Pamulapadu were selected for the study by using multistage random sampling technique. 65 ASHAs from 20 SCs of these six PHCs had participated in the study for evaluation of their performance in the field.Results: Majority of ASHAs had average level of the performance in counselling of antenatal cases, escorting postnatal cases, motivating cases for family planning adoption, escorting family planning cases whereas the performance level was found to be good among majority of ASHAs with regard to escorting antenatal cases, counselling of postnatal cases and getting children immunized. Majority of ASHAs were not performing activities regarding creating awareness on social determinants of health, providing primary medical care for minor ailments, informing births and deaths to SC/PHC, distributing ORS, IFA and chloroquine.Conclusions: Regular on job training as well as review training for ASHAs every 6 months helps them to increase their participation in various activities with a rejuvenated enthusiasm. The incentives for ASHA must be raised and paid promptly to them to improve their performance.
ABSTRACT
Background: Snake bite is a common medical emergency and an occupational hazard, more so in tropical India, where farming is a major source of employment. In India alone, it has been estimated that as many as 2.8 million people are bitten by snakes, and 46 900 people die from snakebite every year. The objective of the present study is to study the awareness about hazards of snake bite and to educate about preventive and first aid measures for snake bite.Methods: This study was a community based longitudinal study conducted in 7 villages near Kurnool town. The sample size was 230. From each agriculture workers after obtaining consent pre-test was done to know their awareness regarding hazards of snake bites in agriculture fields and preventive and first aid measures in each village followed by post-test after health education.Results: In this study 230 agriculture workers were participated. Among them 108 (46.95%) were males and 122 (53.1%) were females. Most of the study population were in the age group of 31-40 years (36.9%). Using torch during nights was 68.7% it was increased significantly to 83% after health education, using foot wear was only in 30.4% and increased significantly to 100%, using stick was in 76% and increased to 100% significantly.Conclusions: The practice of using torch, wearing footwear, using stick while on field, avoid sleeping on ground in the field were significantly improved after health education. The first aid measure measures after snake bite like immobilization of bitten limb, reassure the person bitten by snake, avoid suctioning, avoiding tourniquet were also improved significantly after health education.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation for rural people is the key catalyst for economic and human growth. However extreme poverty inhibits a significant portion of rural population from getting access to sanitation facilities and safe drinking water services. The study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and Practices (KAP) with regard to water, sanitation and hygienic practices and to identify the socio-demographic factors in relation. Methods: A cross-sectional study sample comprising of 236 households was conducted in the rural field practice area after obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Proportionate sample of 20% households were taken from each ward and houses were selected by systematic random sampling method. Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding water, sanitation and hygiene were assessed using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Out of 236 households majority interviewed were females 169 (71.6%), illiterate (54.2%) and unskilled workers 122 (51.7%) belonging to class V socio-economic status 165 (69.9%). Household lavatory is absent in 114 (48.3%) households. Out of 122 (51.7%) households having sanitary lavatories only 59 (48.4%) were fully utilizing them remaining 63 (51.6%) households were going to open defecation even though sanitary lavatory was present. A significant association between defecation practice and socio-economic status, education were observed. Conclusions: This study shows that even though they have sufficient knowledge on water purification, Sanitation and hygiene this was not translated into practice because of poor attitude.