Knowledge and counseling skills of Accredited Social Health Activists on Infant and Young Child Feeding: A community-based study in a rural block of West Bengal, India

• DOI: 10.71152/ajms.v15i11.4265
• Publication Date: 2025-01-03T04:02:14Z
• Authors: Aprajita Jha; Pramit Goswami; Sutapa Mandal; Pranita Taraphdar; Arif Hossain; Suman Sannigrahi
• Keywords: West bengal; Rural community; Community Health; Child Health; Community Health Workers

Background: Nutrition is critical to the health and development of infants children. Nutritional deficiencies in early life result long-term impairment growth. Optimal infant young child feeding (IYCF) practices are one most effective interventions improving health. Aims Objectives: The study was conducted assess knowledge counseling skills Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) regarding IYCF Bhatar community block Purba Bardhaman District. Materials Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional among 110 subjects selected randomly from 17 subcenters 38 wellness centers It using a pre-designed, pre-tested schedule having total score 16, November 2023 February 2024. Results: Mean ASHAs 12.05±2.24. On further analysis, good, average, poor about observed 9.1%, 78.2%, 12.7% ASHA workers, respectively. univariate level found be significantly associated with duration service (P=0.001) training status (P=0.00) ASHAs. that messages addition oil/ghee proper hand washing after handling child’s excreta were mostly missed during sessions. Conclusions: Most workers had correct on but sessions, key not provided by them mothers. Thus, it concluded change approach necessary for enhancing knowledge-sharing