Status of Community Action for Health in Selected Districts of Assam, India: A Quantitative Study.

Background: Community Action for Health (CAH) is a key strategy of the National Health Mission. CAH places people at the centre of the process to ensure their health needs and rights are fulfilled. CAH was first implemented in Assam's (and eight other Indian states) Dhemaji, Chirang, and Kamrup districts in 2007, and later expanded to 27 districts.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to understand the composition, functions of Jan Arogya Samitis (JAS), and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) regarding CAH implementation and communities' involvement in CAH-related activities.

Materials and methods: The current quantitative comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in one aspirational district (AD: Goalpara) and one non-AD (Nagaon) of Assam from August 2021 to March 2022. Universal sampling was adopted to include 17 and 56 facilities in Goalpara and Nagaon for a quantitative survey involving 219 respondents. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for analyses.

Results: Chi-square results reported no statistical significance (χ2 = 0.624, P = 0.429) regarding the type of district and awareness regarding JAS's function. Statistical significances were found between the type of district and support required in training of VHSNC committee members (χ2 = 20.880, P = 0.010) and the type of district and support required in provision of funds for smooth functioning of VHSNC (χ2 = 13.609, P = 0.010). Among community members, around 16 (94.1%) respondents in AD and 30 (53.6%) reported to be unaware of CAH.

Conclusion: Effective use of funds allocated for CAH in ADs and periodical monitoring of CAH activities across all levels of the health system is imperative to sustain its momentum.