Effectiveness of a training program for bleeding disorders among accredited social health activists in Udupi District, Karnataka, India

INTRODUCTION: Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders are underreported and cause significant morbidity and mortality in resource‐constrained countries. Training and the creation of awareness among accredited social heath activists (ASHAs) will aid in the early detection of bleeding disorders at the community level. OBJECTIVE: To develop awareness and skills for the screening and identification of cases with bleeding symptoms among ASHAs in Udupi District, Karnataka, India. METHODS: An interventional study was undertaken in Udupi District, which has three taluks and approximately 233 villages. All ASHAs with a current role (586) from rural Udupi were provided a competency‐based training program at the community health center using a specifically designed training manual for the identification of cases with bleeding disorders. A pre‐test/post‐test evaluation was performed to discover the training outcomes. RESULTS: Sixteen (2.7%) participants had average knowledge in the first post‐test, and 570 (92.2%) participants had good knowledge. Thirty‐nine (6.6%) participants had average knowledge in second post‐test, and 547 (94.3%) participants had good knowledge. The effectiveness of the training program was assessed using Friedman's two‐way test. A significant difference in knowledge scores (χ(2) = 955.1) was found at baseline evaluation and end of the training test 1 and at 30 days of training test 2 among the ASHAs. CONCLUSION: Accredited social heath activists health care workers, who are the most important link between the community and health services, successfully created public awareness concerning the early detection of bleeding disorders.