Year: 2026 | Month: January-March | Volume: 10 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 88-95
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijash.20260113
Knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists on SDGs, Maternal Health, Child Health, Reproductive Health in selected District of Andhra Pradesh
Dr S. Swarna
Associate Professor, College of Nursing, SVIMS, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
ABSTRACT
Background: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) play a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to maternal, child, and reproductive health at the community level. Their knowledge and awareness are essential for improving maternal and child health outcomes, especially in rural and urban communities.
Objective: To assess the knowledge of ASHAs regarding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), maternal health, child health, and reproductive health in rural and urban areas of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh.
Methods: A non-experimental descriptive research design with a survey approach was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among ASHAs working in rural and urban areas of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. Using simple random sampling, a total of 362 ASHAs (309 rural and 53 urban) were selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions related to SDGs, maternal health, child health, and reproductive health. Each correct response was given a score of one and incorrect responses were scored zero. The knowledge scores were categorized as low, medium, and high. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) using SPSS version 16.
Results: The findings revealed that 53% of ASHAs were aware of the Sustainable Development Goals, while only 31.5% were aware of the target to reduce maternal mortality. Knowledge regarding neonatal and under-five mortality reduction targets was reported by 27.6% and 18% of ASHAs respectively. Majority of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge in areas of child health and reproductive health such as kangaroo mother care (78.5%), high-risk signs in children (80.1%), and legal aspects of abortion (80.7%). Overall, 46.1% of ASHAs had a moderate level of knowledge, 27.3% had low knowledge, and 26.5% had high knowledge. A statistically significant difference was observed in the level of knowledge between rural and urban ASHAs (χ² = 14.74, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: The study indicates that although ASHAs possess moderate knowledge regarding maternal, child, and reproductive health, their awareness of Sustainable Development Goals and specific health targets is limited. Continuous training and capacity-building programs are essential to enhance their knowledge and enable them to effectively contribute to achieving SDGs related to maternal and child health.
Keywords: ASHA workers, Sustainable Development Goals, maternal health, child health, reproductive health, community health workers.
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