A Study to Assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Ashas towards the Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) Form in the Rural Field Practice Area, RHTC Banda, District Sagar (Madhya Pradesh)

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for nearly 63% of deaths in India, and one in four Indians faces a risk of premature death between 30 and 70 years of age due to NCDs. The Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) is a universal screening tool used by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to screen for common NCDs diabetes, hypertension, and oral, breast and cervical cancers among adults aged over 30 years, as part of Population-Based Screening under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), initiated in 2016.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of ASHAs regarding the purpose, components, and use of the CBAC form in early screening of NCDs in the rural field practice area of RHTC Banda, District Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 ASHAs with at least six months of field experience, working under RHTC Banda, District Sagar (MP), over a three-month period. After obtaining informed consent, data were collected using a structured, pre-validated questionnaire covering demographic details and knowledge, attitude, and practice domains related to the CBAC form. Knowledge and practice were scored one point for each correct response and zero for an incorrect response; attitude was assessed on a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Mean scores were used to categorise participants as having adequate/inadequate knowledge and good/poor practice. Statistical analysis, including descriptive measures and appropriate tests of association, was performed using MS Excel 2023 and IBM SPSS software.

Results: Most participating ASHAs were aged 30–49 years with more than nine years of field experience. The mean knowledge score was 21.13 out of 24, with 88% of respondents demonstrating adequate knowledge and 12% inadequate knowledge. The mean practice score was 5.32 out of 6, with 89% showing good practice and 11% poor practice in screening and follow-up. The mean attitude score was 4.18 out of 5, reflecting a predominantly positive and favourable outlook, with most ASHAs perceiving the CBAC form as a useful screening tool.

Conclusion: ASHAs in the study area demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, practice, and attitude toward the CBAC form, indicating a good level of readiness for effective community-based NCD screening. These findings underscore the value of ongoing training and field-level support under CPHC and highlight the need for periodic refresher training to address residual gaps.