OBJECTIVES: In India, frontline workers (FLWs) - public accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and private rural medical providers (RMPs) - are important for early detection and treatment of childhood diarrhea and pneumonia. This cross-sectional study aims to measure knowledge and skills, and the gap between the two ('know-can' gap), regarding assessment of childhood diarrhea with dehydration and pneumonia among FLWs, and to explore factors associated with them.
METHODS: We surveyed 473 ASHAs and 447 RMPs in six districts of Uttar Pradesh. We assessed knowledge and skills using face-to-face interviews and video vignettes, respectively, about key signs of both conditions. The 'know-can' gap corresponds to absent skills among FLWs with correct knowledge. We used logistic regression to identify the correlates of knowledge and skills.
RESULTS: FLWs' correct knowledge ranged from 23% to 48% for dehydration signs, 27% to 37% for pneumonia signs. Their skills ranged from 3% to 42% for dehydration and 3% to 18% for pneumonia. There was a significant 'know-can' gap in all the signs, except 'sunken eyes'. Training and supervisory support was associated with better knowledge and skills for diarrhea with dehydration, but only better knowledge for pneumonia.
CONCLUSIONS: FLWs are crucial to the Indian health system, and high-quality FLW services are necessary for continued progress against under-five deaths. The gap between FLWs' knowledge and skills warrants immediate attention. In particular, our results suggest that knowledge-focused trainings are insufficient for FLWs to convert knowledge into appropriate assessment skills.
