ASHA Motivation Audit

Agency : OXFAM, New Delhi/ Lucknow

Indian MoHFW describes them as: “…. health activist(s) in the community who will create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilize the community towards local health planning and increased utilization and accountability of the existing health services”. The objectives of the study were:

  1. to identify the key factors of low and high motivation level among the ASHAs;
  2. to assess the need of training, mentoring and support towards better job satisfaction and quality health provisioning, and
  3. to draw up recommendations on enabling factors for ASHA motivation.

This study was a descriptive, and exploratory in nature. The study was conducted in three high priority districts, namely Allahabad, Hardoi, and Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Purposive sample was used to select the blocks and ASHAs. All the blocks in the sampled districts were categorized in to three categories: low, medium, and best performing using ETT- Enumeration Tracking Tool developed by TSU. The OXFAM and TSU provided a list of ASHAs designated in to three categories: poor, average and good performing along with their respective sub center, cluster and community resource person in the selected blocks. A total of nine blocks in three districts were covered, and in each block nine ASHAs (3 poor, 3 average and 3 good performing) were selected randomly. The field work was completed during June 11-23, 2016. A sample of 79 ASHAs, 76 facilitators (ASHA Sangini and Community Resource Persons, 93 co-workers (AWWs and ANMs), 26 blocks and 10 district level officials, 38 PRI members, and 49 ASHA Husband.

Most important motivational factor for the ASHAs was the financial gain and hope of being absorbed in government job. Irregular payment and lack of clarity on how much incentive for what dissatisfy ASHAs.


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