Evaluation of integrated child development services program in rajasthan, India

• Published in: International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 95 - 101
• Main Authors: Rathore, Madan, Vohra, Rajaat, Sharma, Bhoopendra, Chaudhary, Ram, Bhardwaj, Shiv, Vohra, Anusha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-07-2015; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Child development; Child health; Evaluation; Integrated Child Development Services; preschool education; supplementary nutrition; India
• ISSN: 2349-4220; 2350-0298
• DOI: 10.4103/2349-4220.172888

Background: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is the largest program for promotion of maternal and child health and nutrition. Aims: The present study is aimed to evaluate ICDS program in terms of infrastructure of anganwadi centers (AWCs), characteristics of anganwadi workers (AWWs), coverage of supplementary nutrition (SN), and preschool education (PSE) to the beneficiaries. Methods: A total of 39 AWCs from a rural area and 15 from the urban area were surveyed. AWWs were interviewed, and records were reviewed. Information was collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Results: In the selected AWCs, 88.9% were running in Pucca buildings, 38.9% had electricity, 35.1% had a separate kitchen, 1.8% had cooking gas, and toilets were available in 59.3% AWCs. All the AWW have received job training, 83.3% AWW have received refresher training. 38.8% AWW have received orientation training, 37% have received skill training in World Health Organization growth standards and 18.5% AWW have received skill training in mother and child health. 86.9% registered pregnant women, 90.7% registered lactating women, 72.6% registered adolescent girls were availing SN. 95.4% registered children 6 months to 3 years and 92.4% registered children 3-6 years of age were availing SN. Interruption in SN in last 6 months was seen in 22.2% AWCs. Appropriate and adequate PSE material was available in 59.2% AWCs. Conclusion: There are program gaps in the infrastructure of AWCs, training of AWW, coverage of SN, interruption in the supply of SN.