To Evaluate the Intervention being Provided by AWCs Regarding Breastfeeding, Weaning and Child Diet in District Budgam of Kashmir Region (J&K) (Based on Beneficiary Responses)

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess a feedback regarding the intervention being provided by Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in District Budgam. The study was conducted in 60 Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) and the beneficiaries included three registered groups viz., Pregnant Women (PW), Nursing Mothers (NM), and mothers of child beneficiaries (MCB) having children in the age group 0-3 years - 4 beneficiaries were selected from each AWC. Since India’s 66% of the total population comprises of mother and children who are also the major consumers of health services hence they are the “priority,” “special risk” and “vulnerable group.” and therefore specific programmes for enhancing maternal and child health have been in place since the early fifties in India. These AWCs serve the purpose and are supposed to provide pre-school education on one hand and breaking vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality on the other hand. By educating women beneficiaries and also providing supplementary nutrition. Keeping in view the above factors and also to evaluate the intervention being provided by Anganwadi centers this study was planned and designed accordingly. Results obtained indicate that inadequate intervention is being provided regarding most of the aspects of breastfeeding with 86% denying the intervention regarding initiation of breastfeeding and 96% said no awareness regarding frequency of breastfeeding is provided in AWCs and 97% reporting no intervention regarding importance of balanced diet for children, although some of the blocks are better in providing information regarding some aspects while as others are lacking the ability to improve the knowledge of their beneficiaries regarding various parameters under study, which needs to be further taken care of through, advanced interventions by involving Anganwadi centres and medical department for the safety and health of our children. All the results were obtained by using Chi-square analysis and by comparing the responses of beneficiaries and AWWs (Anganwadi workers) across the blocks.