Voices of Rural India: A qualitative study on ASHA workers’ perspective on health-seeking behaviour of women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2026.v38i01.010Keywords:
Health-Seeking Behaviour, Community Health Workers, Qualitative, Women Health, ASHA WorkerAbstract
Introduction: Health-seeking behaviour is action or inaction to find appropriate cure when there is a health problem. Community health workers (CHW) can provide a comprehensive understanding of women's healthcare-seeking practices, to evaluate their level of care delivery to determine any barriers or enhancers on the health provider’s side. The study aims to assess the CHW’s perspective regarding health-seeking behaviour among rural women and determine the factors affecting it. Materials and methods: Qualitative, phenomenological, study using focus group discussions was conducted among ASHAs - the CHW, who provide healthcare in a rural village in India. The transcribed data was analysed further using thematic analysis. Results: From the ASHA’s perspective, gender disparities, socio-cultural barriers, financial dependency on men, patriarchal decision-making norms in a family, overburden of household responsibilities, and lack of health awareness were found to hinder the health-seeking behaviour of a rural woman. Some short-term strategies that emerged to bridge this gap were home-based healthcare services, a multi-source group approach of awareness campaigns, promoting self-prioritisation of health among women and strengthening family planning awareness among both genders. Conclusion: Health-seeking behaviour patterns as observed by ASHA’s was still filled with challenges
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