An ASHA worker has a very important role in the community. Which of the following is correct regarding the function of an ASHA?

Appeared in: RML 2023

Explanation

The primary role of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) is to act as a link between the community and the public health system.
A key responsibility is to organize Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs), often monthly, in collaboration with the Anganwadi Worker (AWW) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM).
During VHNDs, services like immunization, antenatal check-ups, and health education are provided, and the ASHA's job is to ensure community members, especially women and children, attend and benefit from these services.

Option A: ASHAs do not perform deliveries. This is a clinical procedure requiring skilled training.
Option B: Administering vaccines via injection is a skilled clinical task that falls outside the ASHA's scope of work.
Option D: Providing supplementary nutrition is a function of a different community-level scheme.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Roles and Responsibilities of Community Health Workers (ASHA) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the distinct roles of ASHA, ANM, and AWW is fundamental for any nurse working in community health in India. Misunderstanding these roles can lead to inefficient service delivery and gaps in care.
The ASHA is the cornerstone of the National Health Mission (NHM), acting as the first point of contact for health in rural and underserved urban areas. Their work is critical in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
What if? If an ASHA is not active in a village, the community's connection to the formal health system weakens. This would likely result in lower rates of immunization, fewer institutional deliveries, delayed care for childhood illnesses, and poorer overall maternal and child health outcomes.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'function of an ASHA worker'.
Read all the options carefully. This question tests your ability to differentiate the specific roles of various grassroots-level health workers in India.
Mentally recall or list the primary duties of an ASHA, an Anganwadi Worker (AWW), and an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM).
Evaluate each option against the defined role of an ASHA. Option A (deliveries) and B (vaccine administration) are clinical tasks for an ANM. Option D (nutrition) is the main role of an AWW.
Option C (organizing VHNDs) is a key mobilization and facilitation activity central to the ASHA's role, making it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Roles and Responsibilities of Community Health Workers (ASHA)
Stem keywords: ASHA worker, function, community
Lead-in keywords: correct regarding
Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) p. 259-261

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 82-84

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 121-123

Practise the full RML 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.