Peer-reviewed article
Evaluating the effectiveness of training on malnutrition for Anganwadi workers in Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru Urban District.
Nancy Angeline Gnanaselvam, Avita Rose Johnson, Anupama Shetty ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study evaluated whether training improved Anganwadi workers' knowledge of malnutrition in India. Of 381 workers trained, 45.9% showed improved knowledge immediately after training, but only 19.81% retained this knowledge after 6 months. The research identified practical barriers including weak referral systems, broken equipment, and difficulty using tracking apps. Stronger coordination between health systems and child development services is needed to effectively manage malnutrition.
Key points
- 45.9% of Anganwadi workers showed increased knowledge immediately after training on malnutrition
- Knowledge retention dropped significantly to 19.81% after 6 months
- Main barriers identified: poor referral mechanisms, malfunctioning anthropometry devices, and complexity of malnutrition management
- Participants reported challenges with Poshan tracker app use and practical aspects of malnutrition management
- Study recommends standardized curriculum, improved teaching methods, and functioning equipment for effective training
Limitations
The study does not measure whether improved worker knowledge led to actual reduction in malnutrition among children in the community. No comparison group is used, so we cannot know if knowledge gains were due to the training or other factors.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post COVID-19 pandemic, due to lack of access to nutritional services, malnutrition prevalence has exacerbated. The role of Anganwadi workers in provision of nutrition services is important in prevention of malnutrition in the community. AIM: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of training on malnutrition on the knowledge of malnutrition among Anganwadi workers in Anekal Taluk of Bengaluru Urban District, Karnataka. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional before and after study among 381 Anganwadi workers on the knowledge of malnutrition. After 6 months of training, 303 among the 381 Anganwadi workers were reassessed for knowledge retainment. The tool used for the assessment of knowledge of malnutrition was a 10-item multiple choice questionnaire. Qualitative information regarding challenges of managing malnutrition was also collected during the training. RESULTS: As compared to the pretest scores, 45.9% of the participants had an increase in knowledge of malnutrition immediately after the training and after 6 months. 19.81% of the participants had an increase in knowledge. During the discussion, participants shared issues of referral mechanism, anthropometry devices, complexity of the nature of malnutrition, Poshan tracker app use, and practical aspects of management of malnutrition. RECOMMENDATIONS: A standardized curriculum for malnutrition, improved teaching-learning methods, and assessment methods for use among community health workers and calibration and functioning anthropometry tools are essential for malnutrition training. In the community, a strong link between the primary health care system and integrated child development scheme and services is crucial in community-based management of severe and moderate acute malnutrition.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Training of Anganwadi workers on malnutrition management and knowledge
- Population
- 381 Anganwadi workers in Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru Urban District, Karnataka, India; 303 reassessed after 6 months
Key finding
45.9% of participants showed increased knowledge of malnutrition immediately after training