The peripheral worker of the ICDS scheme is?

DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

Explanation

The Anganwadi Worker (AWW) is the designated frontline, community-based volunteer for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program.
AWWs are responsible for delivering a package of six essential services directly to children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers at the village-level Anganwadi center.
These services include supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-ups, referral services, pre-school non-formal education, and nutrition & health education.
The AWW acts as the primary link between the community and the public health system under the ICDS umbrella, making them the 'peripheral worker' of the scheme.

Option A: Trained Dais (Traditional Birth Attendants) are primarily skilled in conducting deliveries and providing care during the perinatal period. Their role is not central to the broad range of services offered by ICDS.
Option C: Village Health Guides are part of a different scheme aimed at providing basic health education and primary care. They are not the designated peripheral workers specifically for the ICDS program.
Option D: The Health Assistant (Female), also known as Lady Health Visitor (LHV), is a supervisory position within the Primary Health Centre (PHC) system. They supervise the work of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and are not the frontline ICDS workers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Role of peripheral workers in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the role of the Anganwadi Worker is crucial for community health nurses, as AWWs are key collaborators in implementing national health programs at the grassroots level.
Effective coordination between ANMs, ASHAs, and AWWs can significantly improve outcomes in maternal and child health, nutrition, and immunization coverage.
What if the question asked about the supervisor of the Anganwadi Worker? The answer would be the Mukhya Sevika (or Anganwadi Supervisor), who oversees the work of several Anganwadi centers within an ICDS project.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'peripheral worker' and 'ICDS scheme'.
'Peripheral worker' implies a frontline, community-level functionary who is the first point of contact.
'ICDS scheme' specifies the program context, which is focused on integrated services for children and mothers.
Evaluate each option based on its primary role and the scheme it is associated with.
Recall that the Anganwadi is the specific center for ICDS activities at the village level, making the Anganwadi Worker the most logical answer.
Differentiate this role from other community health workers: Dais are childbirth-focused, Health Guides have a broader but less-defined role, and Health Assistants are supervisory, not peripheral.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Role of peripheral workers in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
Stem keywords: peripheral worker, ICDS scheme
Lead-in keywords: is
Negative lead-in flag: false

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