Do adolescent girls of Coastal Karnataka, India have Knowledge of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme? What is their perception and utilization rate? – A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical phase in the life of woman. At this stage, she would stand at the beginning ofadulthood. This stage is in midway between childhood and womanhood and it is the most eventful for mental, emotional,social and psychological health and well-being. The life-cycle approach for holistic development of a child remainsunaddressed if adolescent girls are excluded from the nutritional and developmental programmes.Aims/Objectives: To study the awareness, utilization and perception of ICDS scheme by adolescent girls in coastalKarnataka.Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 66 adolescent girls in the field practicearea of a tertiary care Hospital in South India.Results: All the adolescent girls were registered. But only 2 beneficiaries were given services in rotation basis for theperiod of 6 months. Among the study subjects, larger proportion were aware of Supplementary Nutrition SN (97%)followed by Iron & Folic Acid supplementation IFA (43.9%) and Nutrition & Health Education NHED (25.8%). Majoritywere utilizing SN (97%) followed by IFA supplementation (30.3%) and NHED (25.8%). SN food of good quality (60.9%)followed by average quality (37.5%) and of adequate quantity (93.8%). It was also found that 92.4% adolescent girls weresatisfied with SN.Conclusions: It is vital to register all the adolescent girls, and ensure that they all avail the ICDS services regularly toimprove the nutritional status. There is a necessity to improve the quality and quantity of food provided as per the hopeof mothers to ensure better utilization.