Assessment of Intervention Being Provided at AWCs Related to Nutrition and Care during Pregnancy and Lactation in District Budgam of Kashmir Region J&K (Based on Beneficiary Responses)

This research was planned to study the intervention being provided by AWCs (Anganwadi Centers) to improve the knowledge level of women beneficiaries regarding health care and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. Inthis context, four blocks were purposively selected from district Budgam of Kashmir region. From these four blocks 60 AWCs were randomly selected through lottery method with 15 AWCs from each block. A total number of 240 women beneficiaries were purposively selected from these AWCs with only 4 beneficiaries (2 Mothers of Child beneficiary, 2 Nursing mothers and 2 Pregnant women) from each centre. The Study revealed that insufficient intervention is being provided across all the four blocks regarding health care and nutrition during pregnancy. The only intervention that is being provided is through lectures or discussion during VHND (Village and Health Nutrition Day) and NHED (Nutrition and Health Education Day) meetings. However, these meetings are being conducted occasionally at Health centres or AWCs through health personnel or ASHA workers. No specific intervention or advice related to importance of regular health checkups, nutrition, weight monitoring or maintenance of Hb level during pregnancy is observed. The only aspect where intervention is being provided at the best is vaccination during pregnancy and maintenance of vaccination cards including nutrition as per the supply and availability of ration at centers. However, in block Budgam and Nagam intervention regarding importance of health care and importance of nutrition during pregnancy was provided through regular lectures during nutrition distribution hour and through home visits. Moreover, basic pre-natal care components are effective means to prevent range of pregnancy complication and reduce maternal mortality. The findings indicate that there is need for enhancement of intervention educational programme in ICDS regarding importance of prenatal care and service for the healthy birth outcome and mothers’ well being. However, there are also still many important aspects /areas where intervention need to be focused to improve the knowledge of Kashmiri women.