ABSTRACT
Background: Job satisfaction of accredited social health activist (ASHA), a voluntary health worker under national health mission, is not yet documented in many areas of the country. The present study assessed the job satisfaction of ASHA in Bhatar community development block of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal.Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken during September–November 2017 among all the 191 ASHAs in Bhatar block. With prior consent, interviews were conducted using a questionnaire developed based on measures of job satisfaction (MJS) tool. The questionnaire contained total 28 items in six individual facets of satisfaction-personal component, workload, professional support, training, incentive and care providing. Responses for each item were recorded in 3-point Likert’s scale, total score ranging from 28–84. Overall satisfaction was categorised as dissatisfied (score=28), neutral (29-56) and satisfied (57-84) and similar categorisation was done for individual facets. Chi square test was applied to determine associated factors.Results: Overall 93.7% ASHAs were satisfied with their work, 6.3% were neither dissatisfied nor satisfied. Majority were satisfied regarding individual facets except incentive; 73.3% were rather dissatisfied. Overall satisfaction was significantly associated with the service duration of ASHA (p=0.001).Conclusions: Overall satisfaction level among ASHAs in the area though are quite high, some individual aspects like incentives needs to be looked into. Further studies will be helpful to delineate many unexplored reasons or aspects which might be necessary for developing strategies.
ABSTRACT
Background: The first two years of life involve rapid physical, cognitive and social development that requires optimal nutrition. Tribal populations are the most backward section of the society. In West Bengal, the Santal tribe contributes to 51.8% Scheduled Tribe population of the state. Aims & Objective: The present study was conducted to assess infant and young child feeding practice among Santal women in Bhatar block of Burdwan District, West Bengal in India. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive study of cross-sectional design. Bhatar block was purposively selected and 10 villages inhabited by Santals were chosen purposively. Data were collected by interview method using a pre-designed pre-tested schedule from 120 mothers having children of 0-23 months of age. WHO indicators for assessing infant and child feeding practices were used. Results: Breast feeding was initiated within one hour of birth in 48.33% cases, 46.15% babies were exclusively breastfed and in 47.37 % cases breastfeeding was continued at 1 year of the baby. Solid, semisolid or soft foods were correctly introduced at 6-8 months in 46.67% infants. Only 30.85% mothers maintained minimum dietary diversity while 41.49% mothers maintained minimum meal frequency. Conclusion: The poor status of indicators of Infant and child feeding practice found in present study may be attributed to high rate of illiteracy and poor socio-economic condition among Santal women. Therefore intense total literacy campaign, income generating activities and health education by health personnel is the need of the day.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Information on predictors of quitting behaviour in adult tobacco users is scarce in Indian context. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the intention of tobacco-users towards quitting and its predictors with reference to nicotine dependence. Methods: A community-based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 adult tobacco-users (89.8% male) with mean age of 41.1 ± 15.7 yr selected by complete enumeration method. Data were collected by interview using pre-designed, pre-tested schedule. Nicotine dependence was assessed by Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire. Result: Of the 128 users, 63.3 per cent had intention to quit. Majority of the tobacco users who did not intend to quit belonged to the age group of >40 yr (66.0%), were illiterate (55.3%), started tobacco use at 11 – 15 yr of age (57.4%), had been using tobacco for 20 yr or more (70.2%), were daily tobacco users (91.5%), and highly dependent on nicotine (80.9%). Tobacco users having high FTND score and who started tobacco use early in life were 1.83 and 3.30 times more unintended to quit, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Suitable plan for quitting should be developed depending on the FTND score of an individual, the most important determinant of quitting that would be beneficial for categorization of the treatment leading to successful quitting.