Counseling Is a Relationship Not Just a Skill: Re-conceptualizing Health Behavior Change Communication by India’s Accredited Social Health Activists
Rajani Ved, Kerry Scott
Abstract
<h3>Key Messages</h3> As both community members and health system functionaries, the capacity of India’s community health workers—accredited social health activists (ASHAs)—to improve health outcomes depends on their relationships with families and the support they receive from the health system. Training ASHAs on interpersonal communication, such as how to convey the right messages in a persuasive manner, is an important step to improve their impact as health behavior change communicators. However, it is not sufficient. Effective counseling also requires that ASHAs have strong positive relationships with community members. These relationships are developed over time as ASHAs link communities to high quality health services and showcase their capacity to directly meet key health needs.