Maternal nutrition is a vital determinant of pregnancy outcomes, influencing both maternal health and fetal development. Despite the implementation of several national programs such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Poshan Abhiyaan, and Anemia Mukt Bharat, gaps persist in the effective delivery of maternal nutrition interventions at the community level. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), being frontline implementers of the ICDS scheme, play a vital role in promoting maternal nutrition through counselling, health education, and supplementation. This study examined the knowledge of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) regarding maternal nutrition and antenatal care (ANC) in urban and rural areas of Sultanpur city. A total of 300 AWWs participated. Overall, awareness of key ANC practices was moderate to high, with 72.5% recognizing the need for antenatal check-ups and 93.7% correctly identifying the first trimester as the ideal period for ANC initiation. However, only 80.8% understood the importance of regular ANC follow-ups. Significant gaps were observed in maternal nutrition literacy: just 56% acknowledged the role of maternal nutrition education, and only 51.7% correctly identified the recommended gestational weight gain, with limited understanding of trimester-specific weight-gain patterns. Knowledge regarding iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation was relatively strong, as over 90% recognized its importance in fetal development and anemia prevention. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive associations between posting status and several nutrition and ANC knowledge items. The independent samples t-test revealed a significant rural–urban difference, with urban AWWs demonstrating higher knowledge scores than rural AWWs (p < .001). Overall, the findings highlight adequate understanding of basic ANC components but considerable gaps in maternal nutrition knowledge, underscoring the need for continuous, targeted capacity-building programs to strengthen AWWs’ effectiveness in improving maternal health outcomes.

Keywords: Maternal nutrition, Anganwadi workers, Knowledge, ICDS, Sultanpur, Urban–rural comparison.

Sneha Srivastava is an accomplished scholar with a strong academic foundation and a deep commitment to community-based research. A Gold Medalist in both Graduation and PostGraduation in Family and Community Sciences, she has consistently demonstrated academic excellence by qualifying the UGC-NET examination four times, including UGCNET JRF. She is presently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at the University of Allahabad, one of India’s most prestigious institutions. Her research interests lie in the areas of maternal and child nutrition, with a special focus on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of frontline workers. With extensive experience in field surveys, community engagement, and public health initiatives, Sneha has contributed significantly to understanding grassroots-level challenges in nutrition program implementation. Her ongoing doctoral research, titled “Empowering Frontline Workers: An Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Maternal Nutrition in Sultanpur City, Uttar Pradesh,” aims to strengthen maternal nutrition interventions through evidence-based insights. Passionate about research, teaching, and social development, she continues to work toward advancing women’s health and nutrition in India. Her academic achievements and practical field experience together reflect her identity as a dedicated and emerging scholar in community nutrition and public health research.