title: Awareness, perception and practice of stakeholders in India regarding Village Health and Nutrition Day.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) is a community-based health service package delivered on a fixed day approach. Services like early registration of pregnancy, regular antenatal care and postnatal care, growth monitoring and referral of sick children, discussion of health topics to generate awareness, and convergence between health and ICDS, are delivered every month at VHND at the Anganwadi Center. This study explores the awareness, perception and practice of service providers, and beneficiaries, regarding VHND.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Odisha during December 2009-November 2010. Personal interviews were conducted at the VHND sessions with 111 beneficiaries and 45 service providers using a semi-structured schedule to know their awareness, perception and practice regarding VHND sessions. Data analysis was done and reported as simple percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the health worker females and anganwadi workers considered health awareness as a key component of VHND. 52% of HWFs and 41% of AWWs had misconception about additional roles and responsibilities. 34% of beneficiaries had knowledge regarding fixed day approach of VHND, while 24% did not have knowledge regarding any of its purpose. Only 8% of referral cases had complete knowledge on the reason of referral. There was significant difference in between awareness and practice among the blocks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Service providers' orientation should be improved. Behavior change communication activities should also be increased by the state. Referral cases should be properly counseled. The community believed that such a program should continue with better package and quality of services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, IMS and SUM Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.affiliation: State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Bijayeeni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mohapatra
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Department, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mishra
keywords: Child health; community health workers; community-based health services; health education; knowledge attitude practice; maternal health; nutrition; reproductive health