Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Growth Monitoring among Caregivers in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Growth monitoring (GM) is a strategy that enables early identification and timely intervention in children who are not growing according to the expected pattern through periodic measurement of some growth indicators preferably weight. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of growth monitoring among mothers and other caregivers in healthcare facilities in Bayelsa State. Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional design involving 313 caregiver-child pairs recruited from selected health facilities in Bayelsa State. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 25.0 Armonk, NY. Results: Questionnaires from 313 caregiver–child pairs were analysed, 97.8% of the responders were mothers to the children they brought, and 51.1% of them were aged 28-37 years. Majority 140 (44.7%) of the respondents were from a low socioeconomic class. Two hundred and forty-eight of the children (79.2%) were aged 0-11 months, 52.1% were males, and 47.9% were females. Eighty-three responders (25.6%) demonstrated good knowledge of GM with scores of ≥75%, 132(42.2%) had poor knowledge score of < 50%, while 98(31.3%) had fair knowledge scores of 50% - < 75%. The growth chart appreciation scores were also unsatisfactory as 75.4% (236/313) of the study population showed poor appreciation of the chart, 11.5% (36/313) fair and 13.1% (41/313) good appreciation. Only 47 respondents (15%) had ever been taught how to use the growth chart and 76.6% of these were taught by nurses. Average scores for good, fair and poor attitudes were 39.3%, 59.7% and 1% respectively. On Utilisation, 308(98.4%) children had the Road to Health cards but the rate of appropriate Utilisation of Growth Monitoring in this study was 25.6% as only 80 children had ≥ 75% of their weights duly charted according to their ages. Conclusion: Knowledge of child health cards and their utilisation by caregivers in Bayelsa State .....