Assessment of Services at Anganwadi Centers Under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme in Urban Jaipur: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background ICDS scheme in India supports child health, nutrition, and maternal care through Anganwadi Centers, offering six core services. Urban overcrowding and resource constraints affect service quality. Irregular nutrition supply, inadequate immunization, and limited health education underscore need for evaluation and policy reforms. Objective To evaluate facilities and services of Anganwadis centers delivered under Integrated Child Development Service. Methods Cross-sectional study assessed 85 randomly selected Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) in urban Jaipur using structured interviews and direct observations. Data collection was conducted post-approval from relevant authorities. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. AWCs were selected through probability proportionate to size sampling. Inclusion criteria involved AWCs as per sampling technique, while exclusions were based on unavailability of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs). Results Study assessed 85 Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), revealing disparities in service delivery. 56% had adequate nutrition stock, 44% faced shortages. Education-focused activities were common, but parental awareness (35.3%) and staff training (29.4%) were lacking. Immunization (87%) and health check-ups (80%) were prevalent, yet referral for severe illness was low (40%). Growth monitoring (96%), growth retardation detection (27%) was limited. Community engagement was active (75%), though government scheme participation (57%) needed improvement. Chi-square test showed no significant association (p > 0.05) between nutrition stock and service quality, indicating other factors influence. Conclusions AWCs play a vital role in child health and development, yet service disparities persist. Nutrition stock shortages, limited parental awareness, and inadequate growth retardation detection highlight gaps. Despite strong immunization and health check-ups, urgent care referrals remain low.