Abstract
Background While completion of the Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) schedule for children remains a crucial factor in the prevention of illness and promotion of better child health, there has been low attendance among caregivers in Ghana. This study examined knowledge of 220 caregivers of children aged 24–59 months on CWC and other factors influencing attendance in the Garu-Tempane District of Northern Ghana. Methods This health facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among caregivers of children using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics comprising frequency, percentage, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were adopted in analysing the data. Results Less than half (46.9%) of the children completed their CWC schedules. Meanwhile, caregivers' knowledge on CWC was 97.7%. Children aged 37–48 months (AOR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.21–0.86, p=0.017) and 49–59 months (AOR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.10–0.77, p=0.014), respectively, had lower odds of completing CWC. Children with caregivers not having any formal education also had lower odds of completing CWC (AOR = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.21–0.95, p=0.036). Conclusion Educational programmes on the importance of CWC completion should focus on caregivers with children aged 37 months and above and those caregivers with low educational level. It is further recommended that studies be conducted to explore the extent of association between caregivers' marital status, occupation, level of knowledge, and child CWC completion in the Garu-Tempane District.
Highlights
Child Welfare Clinics (CWCs) are a critical component of child healthcare in the developing world as they serve as a platform for health workers to interact with caregivers and build consensus based on improved and practicable ways of promoting optimal child growth [1, 2]
In Ghana, child immunization is completed at 24 months of age, other essential services such as growth monitoring, deworming, screening for malnourished children, and management and referral cases are undertaken at CWC sessions until a child reaches 60 months of age [4]; there is need for a child to attend CWC until such age
The phenomenon has been of concern for the Ghana Health Service [6] as it strives to Advances in Preventive Medicine improve health outcomes of children under five years of age, of which scheduled CWC attendance is one of the key strategies in achieving that [8]
Summary
Child Welfare Clinics (CWCs) are a critical component of child healthcare in the developing world as they serve as a platform for health workers to interact with caregivers and build consensus based on improved and practicable ways of promoting optimal child growth [1, 2]. In the Garu-Tempane District, the CWC attendance for children aged 24–59 months declined from 20.4% in 2016 to 20% in 2017 and further declined to 19% in 2018 [7]. The phenomenon has been of concern for the Ghana Health Service [6] as it strives to Advances in Preventive Medicine improve health outcomes of children under five years of age, of which scheduled CWC attendance is one of the key strategies in achieving that [8]. While completion of the Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) schedule for children remains a crucial factor in the prevention of illness and promotion of better child health, there has been low attendance among caregivers in Ghana. Is study examined knowledge of 220 caregivers of children aged 24–59 months on CWC and other factors influencing attendance in the GaruTempane District of Northern Ghana. It is further recommended that studies be conducted to explore the extent of association between caregivers’ marital status, occupation, level of knowledge, and child CWC completion in the Garu-Tempane District
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
