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

Appeared in: RML Lucknow - 2021

Explanation

The primary role of an ASHA is to be a health activist and mobilizer within her community.
Organizing Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) involves mobilizing the community, informing them about services, and facilitating their access to healthcare, which are core ASHA functions.
ASHA works in coordination with the ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) and AWW (Anganwadi Worker) to ensure the success of VHNDs.
This role as a facilitator and link worker is central to the concept of placing 'people's health in people's hands'.

Option A: Performing deliveries is a clinical skill requiring specific training that ASHAs do not have.
Option B: Administering vaccines is a skilled nursing procedure.
Option D: Providing supplementary nutrition is a function under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, not directly managed by ASHA.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Roles and responsibilities of an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker in the Indian public health system as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses working in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) must collaborate effectively with ASHAs to achieve public health goals.
ASHAs are the nurse's link to the community, helping with tracking high-risk pregnancies, ensuring follow-up, and improving attendance for national health programs.
What if? If a nurse notices a drop in institutional deliveries from a particular village, the first action should be to contact the ASHA of that area to investigate potential barriers and strengthen community counseling and mobilization efforts.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the specific function of an ASHA worker.
Recall the fundamental role of an ASHA as a community-based 'activist' and 'link worker', rather than a clinical service provider.
Evaluate each option based on this core role. Ask yourself: 'Is this a mobilization/facilitation task or a clinical/technical task?'
Option A (deliveries) and B (vaccination) are clinical tasks performed by the ANM.
Option D (providing nutrition) is a specific program duty of the AWW.
Option C (organizing health days) aligns perfectly with ASHA's role of community mobilization and facilitation, making it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Roles and responsibilities of an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker in the Indian public health system.
Stem keywords: ASHA worker, function, communities
Lead-in keywords: correct regarding

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

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