Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India

Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle; Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Research Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India

Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle^*

, Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 14, Issue 5)

Received: 15 September 2025 Accepted: 28 September 2025 Published: 30 October 2025

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was introduced in India in 1975 and aims to improve early childhood care and development by offering a full range of early education, nutrition, and health services. Addressing the persistent issues of socioeconomic and geographic disparities in service access is essential to ICDS's success. This study focuses on understanding the extent and patterns of ICDS service use among mothers during pregnancy and lactation across different social categories and residential settings, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). The findings indicate that approximately 71% of pregnant women reported using at least one ICDS service, a figure that is only marginally higher by about 4 percentage points than that for breastfeeding mothers. However, considerable state-level variations remain evident, with the uptake of nutrition-related and health education services particularly low in several regions. Moreover, the analysis highlights pronounced inequalities across socioeconomic groups, pointing to systemic challenges in ensuring inclusivity within the program. Women from marginalized social groups, lower-income households, and rural areas continue to face barriers in accessing the full spectrum of services. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, context-specific strategies, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to bridge existing gaps and enhance the impact of ICDS in promoting maternal and child health outcomes across India.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 14, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
Page(s)	560-568
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

ICDS Utilisation, Pregnant & Breastfeeding Women, India

References

[1]	Aayog, N. I. T. I. (2015). A quick evaluation study of Anganwadis under ICDS. Programme Evaluation Organisation. New Delhi: Government of India.
[2]	Gupta, A., Gupta, S. K., & Nongkynrih, B. (2013). Integrated child development services (ICDS) scheme: a journey of 37 years. Indian journal of community health, 25(1), 77-81.
[3]	Chudasama, R. K., Kadri, A. M., Verma, P. B., Vala, M., Rangoonwala, M., & Sheth, A. (2015). Evaluation of nutritional and other activities at Anganwadi centers under integrated child development services program in different districts of Gujarat, India. J Med NutrNutraceut, 4, 101-6. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-019X.141543
[4]	International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF (2019-21). National Family Health Survey.
[5]	Aayog, N. I. T. I. (2017). National nutrition strategy. Government of India.
[6]	Thorat, S., & Sadana, N. (2009). Discrimination and children's nutritional status in India. IDS Bulletin, 40(4), 25-29.
[7]	Mamgain, R. P., & Diwakar, G. D. (2012). Elimination of identity‐based discrimination in food and nutrition programmes in India. IDS Bulletin, 43, 25-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2012.00343.x
[8]	Davey, A., Davey, S., & Datta, U. (2008). Perception regarding quality of services in urban ICDS blocks in Delhi. Indian journal of public health, 52(3), 156-158.
[9]	Kandpal, E. (2011). Beyond average treatment effects: distribution of child nutrition outcomes and program placement in India’s ICDS. World Development, 39(8), 1410-1421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.12.013
[10]	Saiyed, F., & Seshadri, S. (2000). Impact of the integrated package of nutrition and health services. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 67(5), 322-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02820677
[11]	Kerber, K. J., de Graft-Johnson, J. E., Bhutta, Z. A., Okong, P., Starrs, A., & Lawn, J. E. (2007). Continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health: from slogan to service delivery. The Lancet, 370(9595), 1358-1369. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61578-5
[12]	Jain, M. (2015). India’s struggle against malnutrition—is the ICDS program the answer? World Development, 67, 72-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.10.006
[13]	Shariff, A., & Singh, G. (2002). Determinants of maternal health care utilisation in India: evidence from a recent household survey (No. 85). New Dehli: National Council of Applied Economic Research.
[14]	Lokshin, M., Das Gupta, M., Gragnolati, M., & Ivaschenko, O. (2005). Improving child nutrition? The integrated child development services in India. Development and Change, 36(4), 613-640. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0012-155X.2005.00427.x
[15]	Deolalikar, A. B. (2005). Attaining the millennium development goals in India: reducing infant mortality, child malnutrition, gender disparities and hunger-poverty and increasing school enrollment and completion (pp. xix+-139).
[16]	Agnihotri, S. P., Pandey, D. N., & Nandan, D. (1984). The impact of rural health services in Agra sub division. Indian Journal of Public Health, 28(1), 25-29.
[17]	Jain, M., Nandan, D., & Misra, S. K. (2006). Qualitative assessment of health seeking behaviour and perceptions regarding quality of health care services among rural community of district Agra. Indian Journal of community medicine, 31(3), 140.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ingle, S. D., Nagdeve, D. A. (2025). Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Social Sciences, 14(5), 560-568. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ingle, S. D.; Nagdeve, D. A. Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(5), 560-568. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ingle SD, Nagdeve DA. Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Soc Sci. 2025;14(5):560-568. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19,
  author = {Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle and Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve},
  title = {Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India
},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {14},
  number = {5},
  pages = {560-568},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20251405.19},
  abstract = {Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was introduced in India in 1975 and aims to improve early childhood care and development by offering a full range of early education, nutrition, and health services. Addressing the persistent issues of socioeconomic and geographic disparities in service access is essential to ICDS's success. This study focuses on understanding the extent and patterns of ICDS service use among mothers during pregnancy and lactation across different social categories and residential settings, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). The findings indicate that approximately 71% of pregnant women reported using at least one ICDS service, a figure that is only marginally higher by about 4 percentage points than that for breastfeeding mothers. However, considerable state-level variations remain evident, with the uptake of nutrition-related and health education services particularly low in several regions. Moreover, the analysis highlights pronounced inequalities across socioeconomic groups, pointing to systemic challenges in ensuring inclusivity within the program. Women from marginalized social groups, lower-income households, and rural areas continue to face barriers in accessing the full spectrum of services. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, context-specific strategies, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to bridge existing gaps and enhance the impact of ICDS in promoting maternal and child health outcomes across India.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India

AU  - Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle
AU  - Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve
Y1  - 2025/10/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 560
EP  - 568
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
AB  - Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was introduced in India in 1975 and aims to improve early childhood care and development by offering a full range of early education, nutrition, and health services. Addressing the persistent issues of socioeconomic and geographic disparities in service access is essential to ICDS's success. This study focuses on understanding the extent and patterns of ICDS service use among mothers during pregnancy and lactation across different social categories and residential settings, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). The findings indicate that approximately 71% of pregnant women reported using at least one ICDS service, a figure that is only marginally higher by about 4 percentage points than that for breastfeeding mothers. However, considerable state-level variations remain evident, with the uptake of nutrition-related and health education services particularly low in several regions. Moreover, the analysis highlights pronounced inequalities across socioeconomic groups, pointing to systemic challenges in ensuring inclusivity within the program. Women from marginalized social groups, lower-income households, and rural areas continue to face barriers in accessing the full spectrum of services. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, context-specific strategies, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to bridge existing gaps and enhance the impact of ICDS in promoting maternal and child health outcomes across India.

VL  - 14
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle

International Institute for Population Sciences, Department of Fertility and Social Demography, Mumbai, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7991-7705
Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve

International Institute for Population Sciences, Department of Fertility and Social Demography, Mumbai, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6943-4323

Download PDF

Submit an Article

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ingle, S. D., Nagdeve, D. A. (2025). Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Social Sciences, 14(5), 560-568. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ingle, S. D.; Nagdeve, D. A. Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(5), 560-568. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ingle SD, Nagdeve DA. Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India. Soc Sci. 2025;14(5):560-568. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19,
  author = {Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle and Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve},
  title = {Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India
},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {14},
  number = {5},
  pages = {560-568},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20251405.19},
  abstract = {Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was introduced in India in 1975 and aims to improve early childhood care and development by offering a full range of early education, nutrition, and health services. Addressing the persistent issues of socioeconomic and geographic disparities in service access is essential to ICDS's success. This study focuses on understanding the extent and patterns of ICDS service use among mothers during pregnancy and lactation across different social categories and residential settings, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). The findings indicate that approximately 71% of pregnant women reported using at least one ICDS service, a figure that is only marginally higher by about 4 percentage points than that for breastfeeding mothers. However, considerable state-level variations remain evident, with the uptake of nutrition-related and health education services particularly low in several regions. Moreover, the analysis highlights pronounced inequalities across socioeconomic groups, pointing to systemic challenges in ensuring inclusivity within the program. Women from marginalized social groups, lower-income households, and rural areas continue to face barriers in accessing the full spectrum of services. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, context-specific strategies, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to bridge existing gaps and enhance the impact of ICDS in promoting maternal and child health outcomes across India.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India

AU  - Sagar Dhirasrao Ingle
AU  - Dewaram Abhiman Nagdeve
Y1  - 2025/10/30
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 560
EP  - 568
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20251405.19
AB  - Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was introduced in India in 1975 and aims to improve early childhood care and development by offering a full range of early education, nutrition, and health services. Addressing the persistent issues of socioeconomic and geographic disparities in service access is essential to ICDS's success. This study focuses on understanding the extent and patterns of ICDS service use among mothers during pregnancy and lactation across different social categories and residential settings, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). The findings indicate that approximately 71% of pregnant women reported using at least one ICDS service, a figure that is only marginally higher by about 4 percentage points than that for breastfeeding mothers. However, considerable state-level variations remain evident, with the uptake of nutrition-related and health education services particularly low in several regions. Moreover, the analysis highlights pronounced inequalities across socioeconomic groups, pointing to systemic challenges in ensuring inclusivity within the program. Women from marginalized social groups, lower-income households, and rural areas continue to face barriers in accessing the full spectrum of services. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, context-specific strategies, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to bridge existing gaps and enhance the impact of ICDS in promoting maternal and child health outcomes across India.

VL  - 14
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download