A study to assess the health-seeking behavior of the accredited social health activists (ASHAs)— a cross-sectional study

Background: Accredited social health activist (ASHA) is a key link to public health services in villages in India. ASHA plays an important role at the grass root level by motivating people to utilize the health services. Unless ASHAs are healthy, it will be difficult for them to work for the benefit of the community. They play an essential role in the health-care system; yet, little is known about what ASHAs do to stay healthy. Hence, this study was done to find the health-seeking behavior of the ASHAs. Objective: To assess the sociodemographic, socioeconomic profile, and health-seeking behavior of the ASHAs and their families. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study on ASHAs working in the rural areas of Sakwar, Khadavli, and Pise-Padgha. All the ASHAs working in the rural areas of Sakwar, Khadavli, and Pise-Padgha were given a printed questionnaire to answer with prior consent taken. A total of 110 ASHAs were included in the study. Result: All the ASHAs had experienced some illness in last 1 year, of which upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was the most common morbidity. About 51.57% of ASHAs had experienced URTI. About 33.60% used homemade remedies, 79.46% went to primary health center for the treatment if not cured at home, and 65.15% of ASHAs decided their own mode of treatment. Conclusion: The ASHAs showed a positive health-seeking behavior, wherein they mostly preferred the private hospital for chronic illnesses.