Delivery of better maternal and child health (MCH) services through continuous monitoring of grades III and IV malnourished children in ICDS scheme.

ABSTRACT

PIP A multidirectional approach was adopted to break down the ecosystem of PEM in a population of 13,286. A continuous monitoring of children suffering from grades 3 and 4 malnutrition was done for 1 year in the ICDS Urban Project, Gorakhpur. 68.05% of the children with grades 3 and 4 malnutrition improved their grades. 4.63% suffering from severe malnutrition died in 1 year. Due to this monitoring system, morbidity of children due to diarrhea and respiratory infections has fallen from 3.4 and 2.7 to 3.1 and 2.3 episodes/child/year. 64 of 84 malnourished mothers gained weight during 1 year. Maternal mortality rates have been reduced from 3.23 to 2.94/1000 livebirths and the infant mortality rate has dropped from 153.7/1000 livebirths to 147.1/1000 livebirths. 13.15% of the eligible couples were effectively protected by family planning services.^ieng