A Comparative Study on Anthropometric Measurements of ICDS and Non-ICDS Children in Selected Blocks of Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present study was undertaken with specific objectives to assess the anthropometric measurements ofICDS and non-ICDS children and the factors affecting them. The study was conducted in Bhawarna and Sulah blocks of district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh. A total sample of 150(100 ICDS and 50 Non-I CDS) preschoolers in the age group of 3-6 years was randomly selected. The data were collected through self structured interview schedule. The findings indicated that anthropometric measurements of both ICDS&non- ICDS respondent's were less than the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards with few exceptions in case offemale ICDS respondents where BMI was higher than National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). In case of female non-ICDS respondents, ratio of chest/head circumference was higher than the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). On applying the coefficient of correlation, age and income of the ICDS respondents was significantly correlated with height and weight whereas in case of non-ICDS respondents, age and income was significantly correlated with height and BMI of the respondents.