Evaluation of healthcare services of integrated childhood development services (ICDS) in a district of Western India

Abstract

Background: Early years of the life are the most crucial period for the physical, mental, social, emotional, language development and lifelong learning. Integrated child development services (ICDS) program maintained its uniqueness as early childhood development program of the world. The objectives of study were to (1) evaluate the ICDS services & its utilization by the beneficiaries & (2) find out differences in health care services between rural & urban anganwadi centres (AWCs). Method: A cross sectional study involving selected 120 AWCs of Jamnagar was carried out using a pro forma having questions related to health care services provided under ICDS. Results: 67% of beneficiaries were regular in pre-school education (PSE). Percentage of mild, moderate & severe malnutrition varied between 82-85%, 7-12% &6-8% in children between 6m-6 years respectively. Referral services, nutrition and health care session, vaccination services, routine healthcare check-up of children at every 1-3 month and Minimum 4 ANC visits were provided in 60%, 82.5%, 62.5%, 75% and 77.5% AWCs respectively. Conclusion: About 2/3rd beneficiaries were regularly attending PSE with higher prevalence in urban than rural AWCs. Percentage of mild, moderate & severe malnutrition varied between 82-85%, 7-12% & 6-8% in children of 6 months to 6 years respectively. Rural AWCs had more ‘mild malnourished’ child & urban AWCs had more ‘severely malnourished child’.