A review paper on anganwadi workers knowledge on maternal nutrition

Abstract

The present study reviews the Maternal Nutrition knowledge of health care providers (ANMs and ASHAs) of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs) and attempts to find out the existing gaps in their knowledge level related to maternal nutrition as well as discusses strategies to bridge those gaps. Good nutrition is the core pillar for human development and its necessity varies with respect to age, gender and during physiological changes such as pregnancy which is a critical phase in a woman's life when the expectant mother needs optimal nutrients to support the developing fetus. Awareness about appropriate nutrition during pregnancy is a serious concern and lack of it may lead to child morbidity and mortality. Therefore it is imperative to address this issue properly in various government policies and schemes. ICDS scheme initiated by Government of India is a major step in this regard which provides nutrition and health education, supplementary nutrition, family planning tips etc. to the pregnant women. The Anganwadi workers are the basic functionaries of the ICDS scheme and their services (providing counseling, supplementary nutrition, distribution of Iron & Folic acid tablets) are transmitted to the beneficiaries through a channel of Anganwadi centers (AWCs). Keeping the above background in mind relevant literature such as journals, newspapers, articles, research papers from Scopus, Pub Med, research gate, and Google scholar related to national and state policies pertinent to maternal nutrition were reviewed to find out the existing gaps in the knowledge level of health care providers. It is concluded from the study that maternal nutritional needs have to be prioritized in government health programmes and strategies to improve the status of expectant mothers need to be implemented to address nutritional challenges. Government schemes can be strengthened by promoting integration of services, ensuring effective procurement mechanisms for supplementary nutrition and food supplements, establishing regional training facilities and strengthening program monitoring and evaluation.