Awareness of Eye Diseases and Eye Health Initiatives among Community Health Workers in East and Northeast India

Pankaj Vishwakarma, Amit Mondal, S.G. Prem Kumar, Shobhana Chavan, Shyam Sundar Das Mohapatra, Pranjal Daimary, Taram Taggu, Dipjyoti Medhi, and Elizabeth Kurian

Mission for Vision, Office 45, Maker Chamber VI, 220 Jamnalal Bajaj Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai, India, E-mail: pvishwakarma@missionforvision.org.in

ABSTRACT:

This study aims to assess the awareness of eye diseases and willingness to work for eye health among CHWs in east and northeast India. A descriptive, crosssectional study was done. Multiple logistic regression was performed for analysis of the association between awareness levels and sociodemographic and clinical variables. A total of 389 CHWs (ASHA: n=194; AWW: n=195) participated in this study. Awareness of cataract (53.5%) and refractive error (46.8%) was moderate. ASHA who had eye ailment in the past year and those wearing spectacles were significantly aware of cataract and refractive error respectively. AWW who were unmarried and those earning a monthly income over INR. 3,000 were significantly aware of cataract and refractive error respectively. Awareness levels for common eye conditions such as cataracts and refractive error was relatively higher amongst CHW as compared to lesser-known eye conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: Knowledge, cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, willingness, community health workers, ASHA, Anganwadi workers, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.70994/jjdms.10773.10788

FULL TEXT:

---

REFERENCES:

Abdel-All, M., Abimbola, S., Praveen, D., & Joshi, R. (2019). What do accredited social health activists need to provide comprehensive care that incorporates non-communicable diseases? Findings from a qualitative study in Andhra Pradesh, India. Hum Resour Health, 17(1), 73.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) (2018). Ministry of Women and Child Development. Government of India, New Delhi. Retrieved from http://www.icds-wcd.nic.in/icdsteam.aspx 

Jain, S. (2021). India's army of unrecognised, unpaid female health workers. BMJ, 375, n2509.

Kalne, P. S., Kalne, P. S., & Mehendale, A. M. (2022). Acknowledging the role of community health workers in providing essential healthcare services in rural India-A Review. Cureus, 14(9), e29372.

Kumar, S. G. P., Bhattacharya, S., Vishwakarma, P., Kundu, S., & Kurian, E. (2018). Effective engagement of community health workers in primary eye care in India. Community Eye Health, 31(102), S13-S14.

Misra, V., Vashist, P., Malhotra, S., & Gupta, S. K. (2015). Models for primary eye care services in India. Indian J Community Med., 40(2), 79-84.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (1975). Srivastava committee report on health services and medical education: A programme for immediate action. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Retrieved from http://www.nihfw.org/Doc/Reports/Srivastava%20Committee%20Report.pdf 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2023). Training manual on eye care for ASHA at training manual on eye care for ASHA. National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Retrieved from https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/Eye%20Care%20Training%20Manual%20for%20ASHA.pdf

Murthy, G. V. S., Gupta, S. K., Bachani, D., Tewari, H. K., & John, N. (2004). Human resources and infrastructure for eye care in India: current status. Natl Med J India, 17(3), 128-34.

National Rural Health Mission (2023). Reading material for ASHA: Book 1. National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Retrieved from: https://nhm.gov.in/images/pdf/communitisation/asha/book-no-1.pdf

National Rural Health Mission (2018). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Retrieved from https://nrhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/aboutasha.html

National Health Mission (2017). About accredited social health activist (ASHA). Retrieved from http://nhm.gov.in/communitisation/asha/about-asha.html 

Niyati, S., & Mandela, S. N. (2020). Impact of the Pandemic on accredited social health activists (ASHA) in India. Review of Agrarian Studies, 10(1).

Sharma, R., Webster, P., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2014). Factors affecting the performance of community health workers in India: A multi-stakeholder perspective. Glob Health Action, 7, 25352.

Sivakumar, T., Basavarajappa, C., Philip, M., Kumar, C. N., Thirthalli, J., & Parthasarathy, R. (2023). Impact of incentivizing ASHAs on the outcome of persons with severe mental illness in a rural South Indian community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Psychiatr, 80, 103388.

Strodel,  R. J., & Perry, H. B. (2019). The national village health guide scheme in India: Lessons four decades later for community health worker programs today and tomorrow. Hum Resour Health, 17, 76.

Vashist, P., Senjam, S. S., Gupta, V., Gupta, N., Shamanna, B. R., Wadhwani, M. et al. (2022). Blindness and visual impairment and their causes in India: Results of a nationally representative survey. PLoS One, 17, e0271736.

World Health Organisation (2023). India’s ASHA workers win Global Health Leaders Award. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/india/india-asha-workers

World Health Organization (1992). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th ed., Vol. 1. Geneva: World Health Organization, Chapter I to chapter XII (Part A), 1992, 429–458.