1Department of Community Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum, Kerala Agriculture University, Kerala, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Science (Food Science and Nutrition), College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum, Kerala Agriculture University, Kerala, India
Online published on 18 March, 2021.
In pursuance to the national policy of children in 2nd Oct 1975 GOI initiated a National Programme: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to improve the health, nutrition and overall development of children among the deprived population of 33 blocks (including 4 rural, 18 urban and 11 tribal blocks) through network of AWC in India.
To formulate and analyse the nutrition status index of anganwadi children attending ICDS centres in Trivandrum district.
The present study was conducted in Trivandrum Urban Project II, (sector I and IV) selected randomly in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. 90 anganwadi children (in the age group of 2-6 years) where selected randomly from the two sectors. Weight, height, skin fold thickness, head circumference, chest circumference, and waist circumference were taken. Nutritional status of each child was calculated using selected anthropometric measurements by formulating a specific formula. Scoring was given for each variable according to the standard values considering both age and gender of the children.
Majority of children (50%) were included under normal range with NSI values above 400. Children with less than minimum weight and height requirement need attention.
Present study reveals that there is a need to improve the nutritional status of children attending anganwadi. Mothers and anganwadi workers should be made aware of the significance of nutrition among children
ICDS, Anganwadi children, Nutrition status, Weight, Height, SFT, Head, Chest, Waist and mid upper arm circumference
