Data Management Processes in Integrated Child Development Service : A Critical Analysis of Data Management in Integrated Child Development Services in the State of Orissa, India

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) provides health and nutrition services to children under 6 years, pregnant women and adolescent girls in India To assess the data collection and data management process at different levels in ICDS, to assess whether there are data discrepancies/gaps during data transfer at different levels in ICDS and to describe the possible reasons for this data discrepancy. The study was done using a cross sectional descriptive design in the Keonjhar district of Orissa. Multistage sampling method was used. The Anganwadi supervisor, child development project officer and 5 beneficiaries were also chosen from each Anganwadi Center and interviewed with the help of a check list. None of the Anganwadi workers (AWW) were using all the registers as instructed by the program for collecting essential data. The weight of the children recorded by the anganwadi worker was significantly different from the weight recorded for the same children by the researcher (p = 0.023). The Preschool Education (PSE) attendance according to the parents' response and the anganwadi register were significantly different(p=0.000).