A community-based knowledge, attitude and practices study of Accredited Social Health Activist functionaries in active case detection of Leprosy in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh

Authors

  • Jaideep Kumar Chaubey Department of Community Medicine, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Arslan Neyaz Department of Community Medicine, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Malik S. Ahmed Department of Community Medicine, MSD Autonomous State Medical College, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Virendra Kumar Department of Community Medicine, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Kripashankar Nayak Department of Community Medicine, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20213412

Keywords:

ASHA, Hensen’s disease, Leprosy, LCDC

Abstract

Background: Leprosy was eliminated at the global level in the year 2000. But regional disparities still exist. Some countries have not attained the elimination status and still reporting a good number of cases. The major burden of new cases was from India, Brazil and Indonesia. Early case detection and treatment is the key to achieve elimination. ASHA workers are involved in this campaign to make it successful. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of ASHA functionaries regarding leprosy disease and to analyze the field practices of ASHA functionaries during LCDC activity.

Methods: The present study was a community based observational study which was conducted at field practice area of RHTC, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences from 6 November to 19 November 2017. All ASHA functionaries were interviewed using preformed semi-structured questionnaire. Data were stored in Microsoft excel XP and analyzed.

Results: None (0%) of ASHA functionaries correctly knew the exact cause of leprosy. Only 10.2% knew mode of transmission, 89.8% knew sign and symptoms, 28.6% knew complications, 12.2% knew prevention of complications, only 10.2% knew exact meaning of MDT. Only 63.3% ASHAs had prior information about orientation training. Out of these only 26.5% completed the practical exercises. Local community remained uninformed about LCDC activity as IEC activities were very poor in all of the centers.

Conclusions: In India ASHA workers are the main health functionaries for LCDC activity and in this study, we found that quality of orientation training was substandard as compared to GOI guidelines. So, every effort should be given to make orientation training successful.

References

Kadri AM. Specific Epidemiology of Infectious Disease. IAPSM’s Textbook of Community Medicine. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2021: 443-5.

WHO. Weekly epidemiological record, no 35, 2017. Available at: https://www.who.int/wer/2017/9235/en/. Accessed on 10 March 2021.

Park K. Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases. Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 26th ed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot; 2021: 358.

WHO. Towards Zero Leprosy. Global Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) Strategy 2021-2030, 2017. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290228509. Accessed on 10 March 2021.

Central Leprosy Division. Operational guidelines for Leprosy case detection campaign in India. New Delhi: Directorate General of Health Services, 2020. Available at: http://nlep.nic.in/pdf/Final_OG_LCDC%20(1).pdf. Accessed on 10 March 2021.

Directorate General of Health Services. Report on the Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign under National Leprosy Eradication Programme, 2017. Available at: https://dghs.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/Leprosy/LOCAL_REF_4964_1611920700. Accessed on 10 March 2021.

Gosavi SV, Raut AV, Deshmukh PR, Mehendale AM, Garg BS. ASHAs’ awareness and perceptions about their roles and responsibilities: A study from rural Wardha. J Mahatma Gandhi Inst Med Sci. 2011;16:1-8.

Garg PK, Bhardwaj A, Singh A, Ahluwalia SK. An evaluation of ASHA worker's awareness and practice of their responsibilities in rural Haryana. Natl J Community Med. 2013;4:76-80.

Bhagat VM, Baviskar SR, Giri VC, Ali MKS. Evaluation of Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) in Jharkhand: The Way Forward for Elimination of Leprosy. Online J Health Allied Scs. 2016;15:2.

Sekar B, Kothandapani G, Rao PT, Krishnamurthy P. Evaluation of the modified leprosy elimination campaign in a high leprosy endemic district of Jharkhand. Indian J Lepr. 2003;75:233-6.

Gopalan SS, Mohanty S, Das A. Assessing community health workers' performance motivation: a mixed-methods approach on India's Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) programme. BMJ Open. 2012;2(5):1557.

Rao PV, Bhuskade RA, Desikan KV. Modified leprosy elimination campaign (MLEC) for case detection in a remote tribal area in the State of Orissa, India. Lepr Rev. 2000;71(3):377-81.

Kumar A, Durgambal K, Kalaivani S, Sirumban P. The factors influencing the operational Efficiency of the leprosy case detection programme. Indian J Lepr 1991;63:180-94.

Downloads

Published

2021-08-25

How to Cite

Chaubey, J. K., Neyaz, A., Ahmed, M. S., Kumar, V., & Nayak, K. (2021). A community-based knowledge, attitude and practices study of Accredited Social Health Activist functionaries in active case detection of Leprosy in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 9(9), 2712–2717. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20213412

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles