Paper Details

Name: Venkatesha Prasanna P K
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume No: 13, Issue No: 1, Year: 2026
Page Number: 330-340
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20700863

ABSTRACT:
The present study examines the impact of Anganwadi services on the nutritional status of children under six years in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka. The main objective of the study is to analyze the relationship between utilization of Anganwadi services, supplementary nutrition, and child nutritional outcomes. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted for the study. Primary data were collected from 50 mothers or primary caregivers of children aged 0–6 years using a structured questionnaire. The study area selected was Dakshina Kannada District, which provides a suitable context due to its diverse socio-economic conditions and active functioning of Anganwadi centres under the ICDS programme. The nutritional status of children was measured using the WAZ (Weight-for-Age Z-score) indicator. Statistical tools such as percentage analysis, Chi-square test, and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis and hypothesis testing.
The findings of the study reveal a significant association between utilization of Anganwadi services and nutritional status of children (χ² = 14.82, p = 0.001). Similarly, Pearson correlation analysis indicates a strong positive relationship between supplementary nutrition and nutritional status (r = 0.84, p < 0.001). The results confirm that higher utilization of Anganwadi services and consistent access to supplementary nutrition contribute to improved nutritional outcomes among children. The study concludes that Anganwadi services play a crucial role in reducing child malnutrition and promoting healthy growth in the study area. It recommends strengthening service delivery, ensuring regular supply of supplementary nutrition, and increasing awareness among beneficiaries to enhance the effectiveness of the ICDS programme.
Key words: Anganwadi Services, Nutritional Status, Supplementary Nutrition, WAZ Score