An assessment of facilities and services at Anganwadi centers under the integrated child development service scheme in Northeast District of Delhi, India

Abstract

Objective: The current study was aimed to assess the facilities and services being provided at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) by the Anganwadi workers with regards to the norms laid down by Integrated Child development Service (ICDS) scheme, with special emphasis on the children of 0-6 years of age. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A resettlement colony of North-West District of Delhi, having a population of hundred thousand. Participants: A total of 41 AWCs were present in the study area and were included in our study. The Anganwadi workers at these AWCs were interviewed. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures were the facilities present at the AWCs and knowledge of Anganwadi workers regarding the services to be provided and revised supplementary nutrition norms laid down by ICDS. Results: The AWCs in the area were covered under three projects namely Project A, B and C consisting of 18, 9 and 14 AWCs, respectively. The mean room size for all the AWCs was 108.97 ± 62.18 square feet. A weighing machine was present in 29 (70.7%) of the AWCs. Growth charts for growth monitoring of childrenwere present in 28 (68.3%) of AWCs. A drug kitwas not present in 14 (34.1%) of the 41 AWCs. The mean number of children of 0-3 years enrolled per AWC was 45.78 ± 14.07. However, the mean number of children present at the time of the visit at the AWCswas 6.24 ± 5.39. Knowledge of Anganwadi workers regarding revised norms for calorie and protein for beneficiaries was found to be poor. Conclusion: This study showed a lack of facilities at the AWCs and poor knowledge of Anganwadi workers. Thus a regular training and supportive supervision of the Anganwadi workers is recommended along with the availability of adequate facilities and infrastructures.