Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study
Introduction: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) play a pivotal role as village-level functionaries under the National Health Mission, driving community transformation, facilitating health planning, and ensuring access to healthcare services. Objectives: To assess the physical health status o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_119_24 |
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| author | Grishma Chauhan Neelabh Pankaj Bhavna Dhakate Kinjal Gadhavi Niraj Pandit |
| author_facet | Grishma Chauhan Neelabh Pankaj Bhavna Dhakate Kinjal Gadhavi Niraj Pandit |
| author_sort | Grishma Chauhan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction:
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) play a pivotal role as village-level functionaries under the National Health Mission, driving community transformation, facilitating health planning, and ensuring access to healthcare services.
Objectives:
To assess the physical health status of ASHA workers and to investigate the prevalence of morbidities among ASHA workers.
Material and Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Vadodara’s east zone, and involves 123 ASHA workers. A questionnaire focusing on health profiles, encompassing age, weight, height, body mass index, and blood pressure, as well as histories of acute and chronic illnesses, was employed for data collection. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize demographic and professional characteristics, and inferential statistics, such as Chi-square tests, were applied to assess associations and factors influencing the morbidity profile of the ASHA workers.
Results:
The participant’s mean age was 38.9 ± 6.85 years. The majority, 74 (60.2%), of them reported no morbidity, whereas 40 (32.52%) had a chronic illness and 9 (7.32%) had acute morbidity at the time of visit. Among the chronic morbidity, 50% of ASHA had poly morbidity. Anemia was found among most ASHAs, 32 (26.02%), followed by diabetes, 19 (15.45%), and hypertension, musculoskeletal problems, thyroid disorders, and obesity were the other major diseases found among the ASHAs in 14.63%, 13.82%, 13.01%, and 11.38%, respectively. Skin problems like fungal infection and rashes were found among 5.69%. Based on body mass index, 27 (21.95%) were found overweight and 14 (11.38%) were obese.
Conclusion:
The study revealed a 32% chronic morbidity prevalence among ASHA workers who are taking care of citizens’ health. It is high time to take care of our health team. First, they should be healthy as they are the role models of the community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e99c1c6953543d984c140fd6f9252ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2249-4863 2278-7135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e99c1c6953543d984c140fd6f9252ba2025-01-11T09:52:04ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352024-12-0113125484549010.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_119_24Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional studyGrishma ChauhanNeelabh PankajBhavna DhakateKinjal GadhaviNiraj PanditIntroduction: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) play a pivotal role as village-level functionaries under the National Health Mission, driving community transformation, facilitating health planning, and ensuring access to healthcare services. Objectives: To assess the physical health status of ASHA workers and to investigate the prevalence of morbidities among ASHA workers. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Vadodara’s east zone, and involves 123 ASHA workers. A questionnaire focusing on health profiles, encompassing age, weight, height, body mass index, and blood pressure, as well as histories of acute and chronic illnesses, was employed for data collection. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize demographic and professional characteristics, and inferential statistics, such as Chi-square tests, were applied to assess associations and factors influencing the morbidity profile of the ASHA workers. Results: The participant’s mean age was 38.9 ± 6.85 years. The majority, 74 (60.2%), of them reported no morbidity, whereas 40 (32.52%) had a chronic illness and 9 (7.32%) had acute morbidity at the time of visit. Among the chronic morbidity, 50% of ASHA had poly morbidity. Anemia was found among most ASHAs, 32 (26.02%), followed by diabetes, 19 (15.45%), and hypertension, musculoskeletal problems, thyroid disorders, and obesity were the other major diseases found among the ASHAs in 14.63%, 13.82%, 13.01%, and 11.38%, respectively. Skin problems like fungal infection and rashes were found among 5.69%. Based on body mass index, 27 (21.95%) were found overweight and 14 (11.38%) were obese. Conclusion: The study revealed a 32% chronic morbidity prevalence among ASHA workers who are taking care of citizens’ health. It is high time to take care of our health team. First, they should be healthy as they are the role models of the community.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_119_24communityhealthhealth workerprevalence |
| spellingShingle | Grishma Chauhan Neelabh Pankaj Bhavna Dhakate Kinjal Gadhavi Niraj Pandit Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care community health health worker prevalence |
| title | Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Decoding morbidity patterns in ASHA workers of Vadodara, Gujarat – A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | decoding morbidity patterns in asha workers of vadodara gujarat a cross sectional study |
| topic | community health health worker prevalence |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_119_24 |
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