Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

A study on the awareness regarding infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among Anganwadi workers (AWWs) attending Anganwadi training centre, Davangere.

Breast feeding promotion is a significant child survival strategy. Interventions to improve early and correct infant feeding practices can result in 22% reduction in neonatal morbidity and mortality. In India, studies have shown that 17.3% of the babies are bole fed. 56% receive complementary feeds from 6 months. The time and type of complementary foods introduced to an infant also have a significant effect on the child's nutritional status.

Anganwadi workers are the first level health care providers responsible for promotion of maternal and child health care. Hence Anganwadi workers should have adequate scientific knowledge about infant and young child feeding practices so that they can impart the right knowledge to mother beneficiaries.

1. To assess the knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding practices among Anganwadi workers.

Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study Duration of study: 3 months (1st June 2012 to 31st August 2012) Participants 234 Anganwadi workers attending Anganwadi training centre at Davangere.

A predesigned, pretested, semi structured questionnaire was given to all Anganwadi workers which included the various components of infant and young child feeding practices. Statistical analysis used: Done using SPSS with frequency distribution.

85–91% AWWs had correct knowledge regarding initiation of breastfeeding (91%), continuation of breastfeeding during diarrhoea and other illness (90%), EBF and initiation of complementary feeding (88%), pre-lacteal feeds and colostrum feeding to the newborn (87%), continued breastfeeding for 2yrs, bole feeding, artificial teats and pacifiers given to the babies (85%).

AWWs had poor knowledge regarding correct duration of storage of expressed milk at room temperature (95%), breastfeeding paerns among working mothers (72%), breastfeeding paerns among premature babies (54%), breastfeeding on demand (25%), farex and cerelac given as complementary feeds (23%).

The present study concludes that the knowledge of Anganwadi workers is not consistent. Though they have got good knowledge about some aspects of breast feeding, in some aspects their knowledge is poor which can be detrimental to the health of the babies. 1