Effectiveness of training on the knowledge of vitamin A deficiency among Anganwadi workers in a rural area of north India.

Training of 95 Anganwadi workers (AWW) were done in two groups in a rural block of Haryana State, India to impart knowledge on vitamin A deficiency (VAD) through lecture, demonstration, discussion. In group A consisting of 56 AWW townom coloured film slide was shown while in group B consisting of 39 AWW no film slide was shown. During pre-test 90.5% participants had medium score with an overall mean (+/- SD) score of 14.1 (+/- 3.0). Post-test conducted after 6 months showed a significant increase in knowledge of AWW regarding VAD with a mean score of 20.3 (+/- 4.51), (P < 0.01). Mean score of group A [22.5 (+/- 4.04)] was significantly higher than mean score of group B [17.4 (+/- 3.5); P < 0.05]. This study reveals the need for in-service training of AWW using appropriate teaching methods incorporating audio-visual aids like film slide show for control of VAD.