Strengthening Primary Healthcare: ASHA Workers’ Role in Service Delivery and Quality

Purpose: This study examines the role of ASHA workers in enhancing rural healthcare services and assesses the impact of ASHA schemes in selected villages. The study hypothesised that acceptability, counselling, availability and support services are significantly contributing to service delivery. further service delivery has significant impact on quality of health services. Furthermore the mediating role of service delivery between four drivers and quality of health services is also assessed to develop various strategies that can contribute to strengthening primary healthcare. Both primary and secondary data sources were utilized, with primary data collected through a self-structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Using purposive sampling, 90 respondents from ten villages participated, with responses measured on a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using the PLS technique. Findings:The findings reveal that acceptability and counselling significantly influence service delivery, while availability and support services do not. Additionally, service delivery significantly impacts the quality of healthcare services. To assess the mediating role of service delivery, Baron and Kenny’s (1986)1 procedure was applied. The results indicate that service delivery mediates the relationships between counselling and healthcare quality, as well as between acceptability and healthcare quality. However, no mediating effect was found between availability and healthcare quality, nor between support services and healthcare quality. Implications:By identifying these key factors, the research provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare administrators to refine ASHA training programs, prioritize counselling initiatives, and strengthen community engagement strategies, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of rural healthcare services.