Publication:

Perception and practices regarding complimentary feeding among anganwadi workers in Punjab, India

Background Adequate and appropriate nutrition is the key to proper growth and development during the initial years of life. Appropriate complementary feeding depends on accurate information and skilled support from the family, community and health care system. Anganwadi is the focal point for delivering services to beneficiaries in every urban, rural, slum and tribal areas. Anganwadi workers (AWWs) provide health and nutrition education on various aspects of mother and child health. The objectives of the study were to assess perception and practices among Anganwadi workers regarding complimentary feeding.

Methods This was a cross sectional study which was conducted in month of April - May 2014. A total number of 1800 workers were under training programme conducted in department of Community Medicine Government Medical College, Patiala. Purposive sampling was used and 218 anganwadi workers were randomly selected (8 anganwadi workers in each batch were randomly selected) and interviewed Data thus collected and entered in Microsoft excel and statically analysed by Epi Info 7.

Results Only 65.60% anganwadi workers knew correctly about the complimentary feeding that is other food giving in addition to breast feeding. A large percent of anganwadi workers (43.58%) recommended liquid diets for children, nearly all 92.66% anganwadi workers taught mother that during illness feed should not be stopped. Only 43.58% taught mothers regarding consistency of feed to be given to baby.

Conclusions The perceptions and practices of anganwadi workers regarding frequency, quality and quantity of complementary Feeding were not good.