Utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services Among Women Beneficiaries in India

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.