Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool
| dc.contributor.author | Blaauw, Renee | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Daniels, L. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Du Plessis, L. M. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Koen, N. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Koornhof, H. E. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Marais, M. L. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Van Niekerk, E. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Visser, J. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-12-04T14:01:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-12-04T14:01:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017 | |
| dc.description | CITATION: Blaauw, R., et al. 2017. Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool. South African Journal of Child Health, 11(4):174-179, doi:10.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i4.1326. | |
| dc.description | The original publication is available at http://www.sajch.org.za | |
| dc.description.abstract | Objective: The study assessed the implementation of growth monitoring and promotion, immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, and deworming sections of the Road-to-Health Booklet. Caregivers and health care workers knowledge, attitudes and practices were investigated as well as health care workers perceptions of barriers undermining implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a proportional sample of randomly selected Primary Health Care facilities across six health districts (35%; n=143) in the Western Cape Province. Health care workers involved in the implementation of the Road-to-Health Booklet, children (0-36 months) and CGs were included. Information was obtained through scrutiny of the Road-to-Health Booklet, observation of consultations and structured questionnaires. Results: A total of 2442 children, 2481 caregivers and 270 health care workers were recruited. Weight (94.7%) measurements were performed routinely. Less than half (40.2%) of caregivers reported that their child’s growth was explained. Sixty-eight percent of health care workers correctly identified criteria for underweight, whereas only 55% and 39% could do so for stunting and wasting respectively. Road-to-Health Booklet sections were completed adequately for immunization (89.3%), vitamin A supplementation (94.6%) but not for deworming (48.8%). Most health care workers (94%) knew the correct regimes for vitamin A supplementation and deworming, but few caregivers knew when treatment was due for vitamin A supplementation (16.4%) and deworming (26.2%). Potential barriers identified related to inadequate training, staff shortages and limited time. Conclusion: Focussed effort and resources should be channelled towards health care workers training and monitoring regarding growth monitoring and promotion to optimize utilization of the Road-to-Health Booklet. Mobilisation of community health workers is needed to strengthen community awareness of preventative health interventions. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.uri | http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/SAJCH/article/view/1396 | |
| dc.description.version | Publisher's version | |
| dc.format.extent | 6 pages ; illustrations | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Blaauw, R., et al. 2017. Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool. South African Journal of Child Health, 11(4):174-179, doi:10.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i4.1326 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1999-7671 (online) | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1994-3032 (print) | |
| dc.identifier.other | doi:10.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i4.1326 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/104775 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Health and Medical Publishing Group | |
| dc.rights.holder | Authors retain copyright | |
| dc.subject | Malnutrition in children -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Preschool children -- Nutrition -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Nutrition -- Requirements -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Road-to-Health Booklet -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Article | en_ZA |