Impact of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) on morbidity status of children and knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers towards ICDS: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: Nutrition during the early age of life has a prominent impact on growth and development during childhood period and serves as a key determinant of health and nutritional status in adolescent and adulthood life. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the health status and morbidity pattern of children attending and not attending Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) center and to find out the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the respective mothers regarding ICDS scheme. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried among children between 0 and 6 years of age residing in an urban slum area of Karad Municipal Corporation of district Satara, attending and not attending Anganwadies. The study was conducted over a period of 6 months during the year 2017. A total of 500 children were studied for clinical examination and anthropometric measurements with pre-tested, self-administered, and structured questionnaire. The data were computerized in a rational database management system and analyzed using Chi-square tests for statistical significance. Results: Out of a total of 500 children, maximum 58.8% were from age group 37 to 72 months with apparent differences in male and female proportions. The prevalence of undernutrition was significantly high among children not attending Anganwadis (32.4%) and showed 1.8 times the risk of developing under-malnutrition as compared to Anganwadis attendance. The morbidities such as malnutrition (32.40%), anemia (42.40%), Vitamin A deficiency (39.20%), Vitamin B complex deficiency (28.80%), diarrhea (15.20%), and acute respiratory infections (11.60%) were significantly higher in children not attending Anganwadi as compared to those attending Anganwadis (p < 0.05). The mothers of children attending Anganwadis had higher (18.40%) good KAP score regarding ICDS services as compared to those not attending Anganwadis. Conclusion: Children attending Anganwadis have lesser morbidities than those not attending Anganwadis and their mothers had better knowledge about these services.