ABSTRACT
Background: ICDS is running from about last four decades in our Country sponsored by Central Government. For achievements of ICDS objectives Anganwadi Centres need to be well equipped in infrastructure and logistics as they are the main source of services provided under ICDS. To find out available infrastructure and logistics at Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), to study the bio-social profiles of Anganwadi Worker (AWWs) and to assess the factors affecting the organizing ‘matriya samiti’ meeting by AWWs at AWCs.Methods: A cross sectional observational study conducted in a rural area of district Bareilly in 22 Anganwadi Centres selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Selected Anganwadi Centres were visited and selected Anganwadi workers and beneficiaries were interviewed.Results: Majority of AWCs were having pucca type of construction but only 18% were having toilet facility. 60% of AWCs were having regular supply of supplementary nutrition, 72% of AWCs do not have any cooking utensils, around 55% were having growth charts, only 32% were having complete non formal pre-school education kit, less than 40% were having complete medicine kit and only 13% were having referral slips.Conclusions: Most of the AWCs were not having adequate infrastructure and logistics as requires.
ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescence, a period of transition between childhood and adulthood, occupies a crucial position in the life of human beings. The primary causes of under nutrition in India are its large population, socio-economic differences and inadequate access to health facilities. Nutritional assessments among adolescents are important as they are the future parents and constitute a potentially susceptible group. Studies on the assessment of nutritional status of adolescents are less in number and a National database has not yet been developed. Methods: The present hospital based cross sectional study was conducted in year 2013 among 344 rural adolescents of 10-19 years age (166 boys and 178 girls) attending the outpatient department at rural health training centre (RHTC) Dhaura Tanda, district Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, belonging to the Muslim and Hindu caste communities. The nutritional status was assessed in terms of under nutrition (weight-for-age below 3rd percentile), stunting (Height-for-age below 3rd percentile) and thinness (BMI-for-age below 5th percentile). Diseases were accepted as such as diagnosed by pediatrician, skin specialist and medical officer. Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness were found to be 32.8%, 19.5% and 26.7% respectively. The maximum prevalence of malnutrition was observed among early adolescents (28%-47%) and the most common morbidities were URTI (38.6%), diarrhea (16.8%), carbuncle / furuncle (16%) and scabies (9.30%). Conclusion: The study concluded that the most common morbidities among adolescents were related to nutrition and personal hygiene. Regular health programmes should focus to educate and promote health among adolescent.