Alarming rise in abdominal obesity among Anganwadi workers in a rural area of Ludhiana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20260707Keywords:
Anganwadi worker, Health status, ICDS, Poshan app, Social media usageAbstract
Background: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) at Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) under Integrated Child development Scheme (ICDS) are currently, overburdened. The health of AWWs should be optimum for carrying out duties under ICDS program efficiently.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among AWWs in rural Ludhiana. A pre-tested questionnaire was used, their physical health status was assessed and pattern of social media usage was determined.
Results: Out of the total 106 AWWs, majority (74.5%) were in the age group of 40-60 years (mean age=51.44±8.83), 72.6% were living with spouse and 61.3% were educated above 10th standard. Regarding self-reported morbidity, 33% had hypertension and 16% had diabetes mellitus. The mean systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP were 128.58±20.7 and 77.16±10.57 mm of Hg respectively. The mean random blood sugar (RBS) was 131.78±76.17mg/dL and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.90±4.70, with 79 (74.5%) having BMI≥25. The mean waist hip ratio (WHR) was 0.926±0.07, showing increase with age. All the subjects were using social media platforms with daily average screen time of 3.82±2.2 hours. The association between BMI versus age group (p<0.03), education level (p<0.028) and hypertension (p<0.012) were statistically significant. The association between WHR versus education level (p<0.03) was significant. The majority (77.4%) agreed social media provides misinformation. About 11.3% reported positive and 32.1% reported a negative health change after social media usage.
Conclusions: The government should mandate the annual health checkup of AWWs. Social media can be utilized positively by them for prevention and control of risk factors like obesity.
Metrics
References
Parande MA, Tambe MP, Shelke SC. The study of functioning of Anganwadi centers of rural Pune, Maharashtra. Indian J Matern Child Health. 2013;15(3):1-8.
Patil SB, Doibale MK. Study of profile, knowledge and problems of Anganwadi workers in ICDS blocks: a cross-sectional study. Online J Health Allied Sci. 2013;12(2):1-3.
Naidu AM, Morale DV, Gurav RB. Health profile of Anganwadi sevikas working in rural Thane- a cross-sectional study. Int J Comm Med Publ Heal. 2021;12(3):1320–5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20250615
Desai G, Pandit N, Sharma D. Changing role of Anganwadi workers, a study conducted in Vadodara district. Health Line. 2012;3(1):41-3.
Awad MN, Qureshi S, Chavhan S, Kembhavi R. Health profile of Anganwadi workers: a camp-based study conducted at a tertiary hospital, Mumbai, India. Indian J Community Med. 2024;49(1):119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_abstract416
Poshan Tracker app aims to enhance Anganwadi Worker’s capacity to deliver optimal early childhood care and education services to all children. Press Information Bureau release (PIB). 2nd April, 2025. Government of India. Ministry of Women and Child Development. Available at https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare. Accessed on 28 June 2025.
Digital Weight Scale Glass Top SC 181. By Smart Care. Saify Healthcare and Medi-Devices (INDIA) Pvt Ltd, 14/1, Akbar Villa, R.N.T. Marg, Indore- 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India. Available at https://smartcareind.in/collections/weighing-scale/products/digital-weight-scale-glass-top-sc-181. Accessed on 14 August 2025.
Lim JU, Lee JH, Kim JS. Comparison of World Health Organization and Asia-Pacific body mass index classifications in COPD patients. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:2465-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S141295
OMRON Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-8712. By OMRON Healthcare Asia. OMRON Asia Pacific PTE. Ltd. 438B Alexandra Road, #08-01/02 Alexandra Technopark, Singapore 119968. Available at: https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ap/product/13-hem-8712. Accessed on 14 August 2025.
Sruthi, KG, John SM, David SM. Assessment of obesity in the Indian setting: A clinical re-view. Clin Epidemiol Global Health. 2023;10:1348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101348
Freestyle Optimum H. Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System. Abott diabetes care ltd. Range Road, Witney, Oxfordshire, Ox29 OYL, UK. Available at: https://freestyleserver.com/Payloads/IFU/2017july/ART33078-003_rev-A_WEB.pdf Accessed on 14 August 2025.
American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(1):81-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-S081
CS J, Joshi G, Gurav R, Samel D. Health Status of Anganwadi Workers in an Urban Area-A Pilot Study. Global J Med Public Health. 2024;13(4):1-6.
Modi A, Moitra M, Patel BH, Kapadia P, Kantharia SL. Women’s Health: Profile and Practices of Anganwadi Workers. Indian J Mat Child Health. 2013;15(2):1-11.
Mohanan P, Jain A, Kotian MS, NK V. Are the anganwadi workers healthy and happy. A cross-sectional study using the general health questionnaire (GHQ 12) at Mangalore India. J Clin of Diagn Res. 2012;6(7):1151-4.
Ahmed MT, Jadhav J, Sobagaiah RT. Assessment of risk factors of non- communicable diseases among healthcare workers in Nelamangala: a cross sectional study. Int J Comm Med Publ Health. 2019;5(2):745–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20180261
Panmei L, Meshack SW. An Assessment of Social Media Usage Patterns and Influences among Tribal Naga Women of North East India. J Media, Culture Comm. 2020;4(4):45–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55529/jmcc.44.45.57
Shekhawat S, Bhatt B. Analysing impact of social media on women: a study in Vadodara City. Int J Interdiscipl Res Inn. 2021;9(1):53-9.
Screen Time Statistics: Average Screen Time by Country. Rebecca Moody, Head of data Research at Comparitech. Updated March 26, 2025. Comparitech Limited, a registered company in England and Wales (Company No. 09962280), Suite 3 Falcon Court Business Centre, College Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TF, United Kingdom. Available at: https://www.comparitech.com/tv-streaming/screen-time-statistics/ Accessed on 8 August 2025.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
