CHILD SURVIVAL THROUGH INTERVENTION OF ACCREDITED SOCIAL HEALTH ACTIVIST (ASHA) IN ALIGARH DISTRICT

Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) was introduced by the government of India, under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 to render health care services to rural population with major focus on vulnerable groups i.e. women and children. In India, poor accessibility health care services for children resulted with high child mortality, and Uttar Pradesh, stands below than national average. The ASHAs endeavour for the survival of every child through rendering care services in every village. The efforts of the ASHAs for child survival in Aligarh are reflected in the several studies by DLHS, NFHS, and AHS. District Level Household Survey-3 (DLHS, 2007-08) reported that Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Child Deaths Under- 5 years were 85 and 73 respectively. Subsequently, DLHS- 4 (2013-14), reported some improvement in which IMR came down 72 and Child Mortality Under- 5 were reduced by 65. Immunization indicators also improved as full immunization of children in Aligarh District was of 30.4 percent in 2011 which improved to 56.62 in 2015 (Annual Health Survey, 2013). National Family Health Survey (NFHS- 4, 2015- 16) also supports some improvement in child health indicators in Aligarh. This study is based on data by secondary sources from studies, surveys, reports, and modules etc. The current study attempts to highlight intervention of the ASHAs at grass root level for ensuring child survival.