Factors influencing the performance of accredited social health activists in district Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) is a female community health worker who provides care at grass-root level to her community people. The current study was conducted to assess the factors influencing the performance of ASHAs in district Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh with the objectives to assess the level of performance of ASHAs, to assess the individual factors influencing the performance of ASHAs and to assess the work environment factors influencing the performance of ASHAs.Methods: The researchers used non-experimental exploratory design and 228 ASHAs were selected from different blocks of district Sirmour through multistage sampling technique. Data was collected through structured interview and the tool used was structured interview schedule.Results: The study revealed that 61.4% ASHAs had average performance and 38.60% had good performance. The individual factors influencing the performance of ASHAs were family support, good relationship with family members, job satisfaction, increase in dignity etc. Work environment factors influencing the performance were supervisor’s guidance and support, in-service education, performance evaluation, flexibility in working hours, unavailability of resources, unequal work distribution, distance and transport, weather etc. Other factors influencing the performance were also explored through this study such as lack of safety, inadequate provision of incentives, irregular availability of resources and difficulty in motivating people.Conclusions: This study concluded that the level of performance was influenced by individual, work environment factors and many other factors. Hence, the study recommended that initiatives should be taken at administrative levels to improve the performance of ASHAs and the factors creating issues in their performance should be solved out.