Time Motion Study for the Effectiveness of Intervention by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the control of hypertension and diabetes in a rural population of Kolar District, Karnataka.

Abstract

Introduction: India with an established National Rural Health Mission program integrated with ASHAs provides an ideal platform to evaluate implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) task-shifting strategy in the control of hypertension and diabetes; henceforth decreasing the burden of CVDs. Time motion study is a useful analytical tool for assessing and thereby increasing productivity by a worker. Objectives: To determine the amount of time required for the activity and work function of ASHAs under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).\xa0 Methodology: \xa0This study was done as a part of the non-randomized interventional study to assess the Effectiveness of Intervention by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the control of hypertension and diabetes in a rural population of Kolar District, Karnataka. In the intervention villages, ASHAs who were trained in the control of CVD did the intervention for 6 months. \xa0The time–motion study comprises observations of time consumed in each activity by the five ASHAs, who were trailed during the working hours during January - April 2015. Convenient sampling was done among ASHAs who were active and working; Results:\xa0 The mean age of the ASHAs was 29.73 ± 6.17 years. Their specific tasks were recorded which includes -Arranging escorts where maximum time spent (median time of 1 hr 15 min), New born care (33 min), referral of cases (10 min), Record works (50 min), Attending meetings (20 min). Management of childhood illness, Primary medical care -Not observed. The average duration of their work including maternal & child health care was 5hr 15 min where the time varies on different days and also based on the work calls with CVD work amounting to 40 min which did not affect their routine works. Conclusion: \xa0Though ASHAs are involved in maternal and child health services, they are not burdened with the CVD work.