Assessment of Nutritional Status of Anganwadi Workers of Palanpur Taluka in North Gujarat

Abstract

Number of studies have been conducted to assess the nutritional and health status of the anganwadi children but very less focus has been given to assess the nutritional status of anganwadi workers. AW are actually the main resource person of the ICDS program. For the better outcome of ICDS services it is expected that the anganwadi workers should have a healthy nutritional status. The present study was aimed to assess nutritional status of anganwadi workers of Palanpur taluka of Banaskantha district. For the present study two hundred anganwadi workers were selected by simple random sampling method. Personal interview technique was used for collecting data on personal and socio-economic characteristics and dietary pattern. Nutritional status of AW was determined on the basis of anthropometric measurement, clinical examination and dietary assessment. The data obtained from the study was statistically analysed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficient. Anthropometric indices revealed that among the whole population fifty per cent anganwadi workers of Palanpur taluka had normal nutritional status and only few workers were severely malnourished. Age of anganwadi workers showed highly significant positive correlation with nutritional status and housing condition of anganwadi workers showed significant positive correlation with nutritional status.