GROWTH CHART – Uses of Growth Chart, Alternative Methods of Growth Monitoring and Child Health Problems (CHILD HEALTH NURSING)
The growth chart or ‘road to health chart first designed by David Morley and later modified by WHO. It is visible display of the child’s physical growth and development. It is designed primarily for the longitudinal follow up of a child
USES OF GROWTH CHART
- Growth monitoring which is of great value in child health care
- It is used as diagnostic tool for identifying “high risk children”
- It helps planning and policy making in relation to child health care at the local and central levels
- Educational tool for the mother to participate more actively in growth monitoring
- It helps the health worker on the type of intervention that is needed. It will help to make referrals easier.
- It provides a good method to evaluate the impact of a program or of special interventions for improving child growth and development
- It is used as tool for teaching, for example, the importance of adequate feeding
ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF GROWTH MONITORING
The growth chart or road to health chart is described as a passport to child healthcare. The road to health chart helps to identify “at a glance”. It also provided on the card to record important events such as immunization, birth history and if any treatment given. Growth charting is only one method of growth monitoring; there are other indications such as height for age, weight for height and arm circumference
CHILD HEALTH PROBLEMS
Low birth weight: International agreement of low birth weight has been defined as birth weight of less than 2.5kg. the measurement being taken preferably within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. There are two main groups of low birth weight babies those born prematurely (short gestation) and those with fetal growth retardation
Malnutrition: malnutrition makes the child more susceptible to infection. Undernourished children do not grow to their full potential of physical and mental abilities. Malnutrition in infancy and childhood leads to stunted growth. Micronutrient malnutrition refers to a group of condition caused by deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals
Infectious and parasitic disease: the leading childhood diseases are diarrhea, respiratory infections, measles, pertussis, polio, neonatal tetanus, tuberculosis, and diphtheria. Parasitic diseases such as eruptive fevers, poliomyelitis, malaria, intestinal parasites such as ascariasis, hook worm giardiasis and amoebiasis, etc. which are common because of poor environmental sanitation and paucity of portable drinking water
Accidents and poisoning: children and young adolescents are particularly vulnerable to domestic accidents including falls, burns, poisoning and drowning. Accidents among children are home accidents and traffic accidents
Other factors affecting child health: child health is affected by various factors – behavioral problems, maternal health, family environment, socioeconomic circumstances, environment and social support and health care
