Role Perception and Performance of Privately Practicing Paravets in Delivery of Animal Health Services at Farmers' Doorstep: an Exploratory Study in India.

Privately practicing paravets have been under value assessment since a long time vis-à-vis delivery of prompt and efficient animal husbandry services at farmer's doorstep. Wide variation in educational qualifications, training duration, and the shortage of veterinarians could act as impetus to test suitability of service provider to availability, accessibility, acceptability, adequacy, and affordability by farmers. The present study was conceptualized to analyze the role perception by delineating role priorities and to assess the role performance of paravets in perspective of stakeholders, namely trainers of paravet schools and paravets themselves. In the study, analytical hierarchical process (AHP) has been used to establish role priority for para-veterinary services. Two indices, namely, role performance index (RPI) and perceived effective index of measures (PEIM), were devised to assess the prospects of effective delivery of minor veterinary services. Results indicated that paravets perceived roles under productive services as first priority, followed by preventive services, curative services, while miscellaneous services as last priority (0.237), while trainers perceived preventive services as the first priority. Results of chi-square test revealed that variables such as age, experience, and educational qualification of trainers were found significant and had a positive association with the scores of evaluative role performance of minor veterinary services and perceived effectiveness of measures to improve para-veterinary services.