Benefits of Using of IEC Materials by ASHA During Home Visits to Disseminate Newborn Care Messages in Uttar Pradesh, India
Tridibesh Tripathy, Shankar Prasad Das · Cross Current International Journal of Medical and Biosciences · 2021
Background: The article is about ASHAs appreciating the use of Information Education & Communication materials related to newborn care. Further, the focus is on the ways in which the ASHAs find these materials beneficial while using the materials for dissemination of newborn care messages. Objective: The objective of the current study is to explore the crucial variables of the benefits of the use of IEC materials as per the ASHAs especially on services related to newborn care. Methods: Four districts of Uttar Pradesh were selected purposively for the study and the data collection was conducted in the respective districts with the help of a pre-tested structured interview schedule with both close-ended and open-ended questions. In-depth interviews were conducted amongst the ASHAs and a total 250 respondents had participated in the study. Results: Monthly meeting platforms at the government facilities helped the ASHAs to be skillful to use the IEC materials. About 75% of ASHAs thought that the materials helped in giving the complete message. Very few ASHAs used the materials to reply to any health-related query during home visits. Less than 25% of ASHAs thought that the materials added to the credibility of the message and helped them to explain to illiterate households. Conclusion: IEC materials help them to recollect contents & give the complete message on newborn care. They could answer queries of community, felt that the materials added credibility to the message & they could address illiterate masses.