Saima Jabeen Niazi, Katrina Aminah Ronis, Gulrukh Mehboob.
Are lady health workers meeting the health needs of the women of Adyala village district Rawalpindi Punjab Pakistan?.
Pak J Public Health Jan ;4(3):27-30.
Background: Over the past two decades the Lady Health Worker (LHW) Program has become an important element in the Government of Pakistan's to raise the health status of women and children in villages and poor urban areas. In societies where women have little access to information regarding health issues and restricted mobility in seeking information and care the lady health workers are the best tool for providing information,education,health and family planning care to women and children at their doorsteps. Methods: A Qualitative Study was conducted in union council of Adyala village name also Adyala in District Rawalpindi. Village Adayala was selected for study because it was fully covered by LHWs and it was the most populated village in Tehsil Rawalpindi. Where LHWs have been working for the last 13 years. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with child bearing age women. Snow ball sampling technique was adapted. Results: The study revealed that lady health workers are committed to their duties. Every day they perform their duties if there is snowy cold or rainy season. They are also having volunteering behavior. The program on the whole is well-designed and if various technical and logistics shortcoming cab be sorted out. It is able to provide the adequate health care coverage to the rural areas of Rawalpindi. Conclusion: The study revealed that most of the respondents were satised from the LHWs health care services. Lady health workers have had considerable impact in two major area of her duties motivation for EPI, skilled care deliveries and promotion and acceptance of family planning. Health education messages are also has greater impact on the community. There is also greater awareness of benets of breast-feeding proper nutrition and hygiene. (Pak J Public Health 2014;4(3):19-22) Key Words: Community health workers, village health workers, community perception about LHW and how they can improve community health.
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