Women’s Perspectives on the Role of Community Health Workers in Planning Family-Community Based Study in a Rural, Remote Region

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) are believed to play pivotal role in enhancing rural health, including guidance, assistance to couples in planning family. In India, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), special cadre of CHWs, program was introduced to bolster maternal child health, though their roles got extended to broader health initiatives. However, ASHAs’ contribution to planning family does not seem to be to their full potential. Need to harness this special cadre of CHWs to promote planned families in rural communities is evident. Methodology: Community based study was conducted over two years in a remote hilly region, in 140 villages with health care facility, (Study Center) in one of them. Study sample comprised of 4500 women aged 20 to 49 Yrs. from diverse educational backgrounds, professions, economic status, and parity. Data was collected through interviews using predesigned structured questionnaire. Results: Study revealed varied perceptions of CHWs roles in planning family among rural tribal women. Most respondents said that CWHs need to motivate health facility births and bring children to immunization clinics, 56%. However, their role in encouraging planning family was less acknowledged 12to 33%. Sterilization was most widely recognized method of planned family, where CWHs were expected to be facilitators, upto 75% Age, education. economic status, jobs, number of child births affected their perceptions and expectations. However most Women did expect CHWs to arrange family planning programs. Conclusion: Present study underscores need for more robust awareness amongst communities about role of CHWs in promoting planned families in rural tribal communities. Strengthening ASHAs involvement in comprehensive fam