Impact assessment of integrated child development services (ICDS) programme on nutritional status of children at Trivandrum district

Abstract

The project entitled “Impact Assessment of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme on nutritional status of children at Trivandrum district” was carried out at the Department of Community Science, during 2018-2020. The objective of the research was to study the impact of ICDS programme on Nutritional Status of children attending Anganwadi Centres and to study the effect of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Anganwadi staff on nutritional outcome of children. The study was conducted among 90 children in the age group of 2-6 years attending the anganwadies and 25 anganwadi workers and helpers working under the anganwadies. Children in the study population attending anganwadies were classified into 5 age groups under the heading male and female. 35% of the children in the age group of 24-36 months were male children and 32% were female children. In the 37-48 age group 28% were male children and 34% were female children. 28% male children and 34% of female children were included under the age group 49-60 months. In the category of above 60 months that is 5 years only male children were there (9%). Birth weight of children were collected from their mothers and found that 11.6% of male children and 13% of female children in the study population were having a lower birth weight i.e. less than 2500gm. Majority of children (48.88%) were from the families having a monthly income of less than or equal to 20,000. Food consumption pattern of the beneficiaries were assessed through the collection of details on the food consumption pattern, frequency of having different food items and the meal timing. 4.4% of the children were vegetarians. Food intake of anganwadi children were found through 24 hour recall method and the nutrients present in their diets were calculated using the Indian food composition table of NIN (2017). The mean intake of children in the age group of 1-3 years are having the required RDA. Protein intake is also more than RDA requirements. But their mean intake shows a serious deficiency in the intake of Vitamin A in their diet. Iron requirement is also less than actual RDA needs. The intake of calorie of children in the age group of 4-6 years from the diet were less than the actual requirements. The diet was found to be deficient in Vitamin A and Iron. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, skin fold thickness, mid upper arm circumference, head circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference and hip circumference of the anganwadi children was collected. More than 80% anganwadi children are having their required weight and height standards. Head circumference was greater than chest circumference for 7% of children. 52 % of children were having lesser percentile values of BMI than their actual standards. 30% of children have skin fold thickness less than 10 mm. Clinical deficiency symptoms like teeth caries, dry skin, pigmentations in skin and anorexia were found among 4.4%, 2.2%,2.2% and 5.6% respectively among anganwadi children. Nutritional Status Index of children were calculated. 49% of children were having NSI values above the mean value. Nutrition status index of children were correlated with the variables and found that there is strong correlation between Skin fold thickness (.77), Mid Upper Arm Circumference (.73), Waist Circumference (.76) and Head Circumference (.74). Knowledge, attitude and practice of anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers were assessed through structured questionnaire. Scores were given according to their answers. Association of KAP of anganwadi helper and worker were correlated and found that there is no significant difference between the knowledge of anganwadi worker and helper. Anganwadi workers score were more than anganwadi helpers in their attitude and practice score. Children in the angnawadi with greater knowledge have better nutritional status than others. Angawadies having lesser number of children are getting more attention than those with more number of children. Findings of the study indicates that Anganwadi workers and mothers should be made aware of the nutritional needs and its significance among children. Knowledge of AWW and AWH should be improved to increase the nutritional status of children by providing better training programmes. Nutrition should be given more importance than preschool education in anganwadies. Children should be provided with better infrastructure facilities for their overall development especially the study kits. Kitchen garden shall be maintained by all anganwadies in order to make the required vegetables in the anganwadi itself. A nation’s children are its supremely important asset and the nation’s future lies in their proper development. An investment in children is needed an investment in the Nation’s Future. A healthy and educated child of today is the active and intelligent child of tomorrow. So they should be well-nourished.