authors
Pranga Paramita Pradhan and Chandni Nath

abstract
Maternal and child health remains a cornerstone of India’s public health agenda, with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) serving as the principal platform for delivering nutrition, health, and preschool education. This cross-sectional, comparative study assessed the awareness, participation, and nutritional outcomes of pregnant mothers and preschool children across rural and urban Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal. A total of 1,041 beneficiaries including 957 children and 84 pregnant women were evaluated using structured interviews, anthropometric measurements, and haemoglobin testing. Data analysis employed SPSS 26.0, with descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests applied. Results revealed moderate ICDS utilization, with approximately 35 % of mothers accessing nutrition and health services. Urban mothers exhibited slightly higher mean weight and haemoglobin levels, while both groups showed borderline anaemia (≈11 g/dL). Child growth patterns indicated 62.85 % normal (Green Zone) in urban and 55.71 % in rural areas, with no statistically significant difference (χ² = 1.98; p = 0.159). Despite improved outreach, undernutrition and anaemia persist, particularly in rural regions. The study underscores the need for enhanced nutrition education, consistent supplement supply, capacity-building of Anganwadi workers, and digital monitoring to strengthen ICDS performance and achieve equitable maternal-child health outcomes.