Background: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, as the linchpins of India's public healthcare system, play a pivotal role in addressing the healthcare needs of under-served communities. However, their responsibilities are accompanied by substantial stressors, potentially leading to burnout—a phenomenon that remains under-explored in the context of ASHA workers. This article examines the intricate relationship between stress, burnout, and the quality of life of ASHA workers.
Objectives of the Study: This study aims to assess the quality of life of ASHA workers, exploring the influence of stress and burnout on the quality of life of ASHA workers and to investigate the socioeconomic factors contributing to stress and burnout among ASHA workers.
Methodology: The study sample included 80 ASHA workers from Ankoli PHC, Adilabad District, Telangana. Multistage cluster sampling method was applied. Mixed-methods approach was utilised, using structured surveys and interviews. Required permissions and informed consent were taken for the study. After obtaining all the scores data is analysed using SAS Version 9.4.
Findings: Stress has a negative correlation with quality of life in all four domains, with the correlation coefficients, ranging from -0.04893 to -0.267. Burnout has a negative correlation with quality of life in all four domains with the correlation coefficients ranging from -0.327 to -0.547. The mean stress score for ASHA workers is 70.5, which indicates a moderate level of stress. The mean values of Burnout for client related burnout is 19, work related burnout is 33 and personal burnout is 38. The mean values for Quality of life for physical health is 82.7, for Psychological health is 77.2, for Social relationships is 77.7 and for environment is 60.9.
Conclusion: Correlation between burnout and quality of life in the four domains is negative, which means that as the level of burnout increases, the quality of life of ASHA workers decreases in terms of Physical health, Psychological health, Social relationships, and Environment. There is a negative correlation between the stress and quality of life of ASHA workers, but the strength of the relationship is not very strong.
Keywords: Stress, Burnout, Quality of life, ASHA workers.
