Impact of perceptions of key stakeholders in combating undernourishment among rural children in Delhi: A qualitative study

Background: The role of community members in deciding nutritional status of their children reveal many complex issues in studies done in the past; in that one such issue is the mutual perceptions of the multilevel stakeholders toward each other, for their efforts usually taken by them for reducing undernourishment in rural areas of Delhi. Aim and Objective: To gain insight in the perceptions of Opinion leaders, Health, and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) functionaries toward each other in reducing under nutrition among rural children. Materials and Methods: The study was done in one Rural ICDS project in Delhi from January 1, 2015 to March 15, 2015. The prevalence of undernutrition in two AWCs was taken from previous studies in the past and thereafter the mutual perceptions of the community-level stakeholders, ICDS, and health care functionaries toward each other were studied by Qualitative research methods. The primary qualitative and quantitative data and secondary quantitative data both were finally triangulated to find out the reasons for existing scenario of undernutrition in Delhi. Results: The higher prevalence of undernutrition (58% from past studies) was supported by inadequate, ineffective and defective perceptions and uncoordinated efforts of PRIs, ICDS, and Health department reducing undernourishment in their area. Conclusion: To gain quality services from ICDS scheme and Primary health care system in rural area of Delhi; the need of the hour is the regular refresher and reorientation nutritional and health training programs for multilevel stakeholders in rural areas for tackling undernourished children in Delhi.