Asia

The impact of accredited social health activists in India on uptake of modern contraception: A nationally representative multilevel modeling study

This paper examines the impact of India's Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) program on modern contraception uptake using nationwide survey data. Findings reveal that women who interacted with ASHAs were twice as likely to use modern contraception. However, only 28.1% of women reported recent contact with ASHAs. Strengthening the ASHA program is crucial for achieving … [Read more...] about The impact of accredited social health activists in India on uptake of modern contraception: A nationally representative multilevel modeling study

This study evaluated the knowledge, accuracy, and precision of female volunteer community health workers (FVCHWs) in anthropometric assessment for children's nutritional status. Thirty-two participants were assessed after receiving education on anthropometric measurement. Results showed good precision but poor accuracy among FVCHWs, indicating the need for standardized … [Read more...] about Anthropometric knowledge and measurement evaluation among female volunteer community health workers in Depok

This intervention aimed to address the unmet need for modern contraceptives among young newly married women and first-time parents (FTPs) in slum settlements. In five cities of Uttar Pradesh, adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) services tailored to FTPs were integrated into the government's family planning (FP) program. Accredited Social Health Activists … [Read more...] about Engaging Community Health Workers to Enhance Modern Contraceptive Uptake Among Young First-Time Parents in Five Cities of Uttar Pradesh

This article presents insights from Project RISE, which combines human-centered design and social science research to understand and improve the performance of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Bihar, India. Through a complex systems approach, the project identified motivations and challenges of ASHAs and developed context-specific solutions. The interdisciplinary … [Read more...] about Integrating Human-Centered Design and Social Science Research to Improve Service-Delivery and Empower Community Health Workers: Lessons from Project RISE

In urban Bangladesh, this study examined the impact of home visits by Community Health Workers (CHWs) providing parenting and nutrition education on children aged 6–16 months. The intervention, delivered over a year, led to improved cognitive, language, and motor development in children. Mothers experienced less violence, fathers engaged more in early childhood activities, and … [Read more...] about Effect of a parenting and nutrition education programme on development and growth of children using a social safety-net platform in urban Bangladesh: a cluster randomized controlled trial