A study of knowledge of Anganwadi workers regarding minor ailments among children in Amritsar district of Punjab, India

Harpreet Kaur; Amanpreet Kaur; Harpreet Kaur; Priyanka Devgun

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20150940

Authors

Harpreet Kaur Assoc. Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SGRDIMSAR, Vallah Amritsar, Punjab
Amanpreet Kaur Assoc. Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SGRDIMSAR, Vallah Amritsar, Punjab
Harpreet Kaur Lecturer-cum-Biostastician, Department of Community Medicine, SGRDIMSAR, Vallah Amritsar, Punjab
Priyanka Devgun Prof. & Head, Department of Community Medicine, SGRDIMSAR, Vallah Amritsar, Punjab

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20150940

Keywords:

Knowledge, AWW, Minor ailments, Children

Abstract

Background: Anganwadi workers (AWW) are India’s primary tool against the menace of child malnourishment, infant mortality, and lack of child education, community health. The anganwadi workers should have basic knowledge of treatment of minor ailment. So with this aim this study was planned to assess the existing knowledge regarding minor ailments of children among anganwadi workers problems and in curbing preventable diseases.

Methods:The present study was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar. By adopting stratified random sampling technique, 5 AWW were selected per each training session. A pre- designed and pre-tested questionnaire prepared was used to collect information from AWW. Pre-test and post-test assessment to determine the knowledge of minor ailments among AWW was done. The data collected was statistically analysed using SPSS 20.0 version.

Results: The study revealed that out of 135 AWW, 40% were in the age group of 25-45 years. Only 8.9% AWW were aware that a neonate should be referred in case he suffers from any of these conditions i.e. hypothermia, jaundice, fever. Awareness about newborn care practices was observed to increase with increase in education level. There was statistically significant improvement in the knowledge regarding minor ailments in post-test scores of AWWs.

Conclusions:Anganwadi workers are India’s primary tool against the scourges of child malnourishment, infant mortality and curbing preventive diseases such as most minor ailments.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Children in India - a statistical appraisal. http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/Children_in_India_2012.pdf. Accessed 12 August 2015.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. http://wcd.nic.in/icds.htm. Accessed 23 August 2015.

Park K. Preventive Medicine in Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Geriatrics. Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. Banarsi Das Bhanot Publishers. 2015;23:661.

The Anganwadi Workers of India - Connecting for Health at the Grassroots. Available from http://healthopine.com/the-anganwadi-workers-of-india-connecting-for-health-at-the-grassroots/. Accessed 27 August2015

Levels & Trends in Child Mortality Report 2014. www.unicef.org/.../Levels_and_Trends_in_Child_Mortality_2014. Accessed 28 August 2015

Shortfall of 2.6 million health workers in India, says new report by Save the Children. Available from https://www.savethechildren.in/component/content/article/79-medianews/179-shortfall-of-26-million-health-workers-in-india-says-new-report-by-save-the-children.html. Accessed 1 September 2015

Thakare Meenal M, Kurll BM, Doibale MK, Goel Naveen K. Knowledge of Anganwadi Workers And Their Problems In An Urban ICDS Block. Journal of Medical College Chandigarh. 2011;1(1):15-9.

Desai G, Pandit N, Sharma D. Changing Role Of Anganwadi Workers, A Study Conducted In Vadodara District. Health line. 2012;3(1):41-4.

Sandhyarani MC, Rao CU. Role and Responsibilities of Anganwadi Workers, With Special Reference To Mysore District. Int J Sci Environ Tech. 2013;2( 6):1277-96.

Accamma O, Manju V. Mothers Awareness Regarding Danger Signs of Neonatal Illnesses at a Selected Hospital in Trivandrum. International Journal of Nursing Care Year. 2013;1(2):1-6.

Jena P. Knowledge of Anganwadi Worker about Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): A Study of Urban Blocks in Sundargarh District of Odisha. National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha. Available from http://ethesis.nitrkl.ac.in/5194/1/411HS1003.pdf. Accessed 9 September 2015

Chudasama RK, Patel UV, Verma PB, Vala M, Rangoonwala M, Sheth A. Evaluation of Anganwadi centres performance under Integrated Child Development Services.

ICDS program in Gujarat State, India during year 2012-13. J Mahatma Gandhi Inst Med Sci. 2015;20:60-5.

Mankar M, Mehendale AM, Garg BS, Gupta SS, Deshmukh PR, Maliye C. Role Of Community Health Worker In The Treatment Of Minor Ailments Among Children Using IMCI Guidelines. Indian J Prev Soc Med. 2012;43 (3):325-31.