Science Journal of Public Health

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Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana

Received: 17 November 2016    Accepted: 05 December 2016    Published: 04 January 2017
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Abstract

Background: Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) activities serve as an important platform for the implementation of child survival interventions to reduce malnutrition, infectious diseases and death among children. In recent times, there has been a steady decline in GMP outcome indicators in the Lawra district. The appropriate practices of GMP help in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers towards child nutrition and health. Therefore, this study seeks to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of growth monitoring and promotion and associated factors among caregivers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to study 300 caregivers’. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants. A semi-structured questionnaire applying face to face interview approach was used to collect data from participants. Descriptive statistics and associations between dependent and independent variables were done using Pearson chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: The results indicated 53% of the caregivers’ with good (high) knowledge in Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) activities, 98% with good (high) attitudes towards GMP activities and 70% with good (high) practices in GMP. Also, 16.2% of caregivers’ children had faltered in growth. Occupation was associated with knowledge (p=.013), and attitude (p=.014). Again, educational status (p=.026) was associated with knowledge in GMP, marital status (p=.009) and child relation with caregiver (p=.021) were associated with attitude in GMP. Also tribe (p=.019) and child relation with caregiver (p=.019) were significantly associated with practices in GMP. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the achievement in the coverage of GMP, implementation of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) program and Information, Education and Communication (IE&C) activities in district, the findings on GMP outcome (knowledge and practice) is not satisfactorily. District Health Directorate need to intensify and strengthen IYCF activities, home visits, health education, and growth monitoring and promotion services.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2017)
Page(s) 20-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Growth Monitoring and Promotion, Caregiver

References
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[14] Roberfroid, D., Kolsteren, P., Hoeree, T., & Maire, B. (2005). Do growth monitoring and promotion programs answer the performance criteria of a screening program? A critical analysis based on a systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 10 (11), 1121–1133.
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[16] Otoo, G. E., Lartey, A. A., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2009). Perceived incentives and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding among periurban Ghanaian women. Journal of Human Lactation, 25 (1), 34–41.
[17] Tharmer, K. Y. A. H. (2007). Mothers’ knowledge and attitude regarding childhood survival. Retrieved from http://www.mejfm.com/journal/Jan2007/mother-child.htm
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Author Information
  • Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

  • Department of Social Work, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

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    Debora Tuobom Debuo, Prince Kubi Appiah, Margaret Kweku, Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu, Seth Yao Ahiabor, et al. (2017). Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana. Science Journal of Public Health, 5(1), 20-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13

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    ACS Style

    Debora Tuobom Debuo; Prince Kubi Appiah; Margaret Kweku; Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu; Seth Yao Ahiabor, et al. Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana. Sci. J. Public Health 2017, 5(1), 20-30. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13

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    AMA Style

    Debora Tuobom Debuo, Prince Kubi Appiah, Margaret Kweku, Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu, Seth Yao Ahiabor, et al. Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana. Sci J Public Health. 2017;5(1):20-30. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13,
      author = {Debora Tuobom Debuo and Prince Kubi Appiah and Margaret Kweku and Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu and Seth Yao Ahiabor and Wisdom Kwami Takramah and Abdulai Bonchel Duut},
      title = {Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {20-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20170501.13},
      abstract = {Background: Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) activities serve as an important platform for the implementation of child survival interventions to reduce malnutrition, infectious diseases and death among children. In recent times, there has been a steady decline in GMP outcome indicators in the Lawra district. The appropriate practices of GMP help in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers towards child nutrition and health. Therefore, this study seeks to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of growth monitoring and promotion and associated factors among caregivers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to study 300 caregivers’. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants. A semi-structured questionnaire applying face to face interview approach was used to collect data from participants. Descriptive statistics and associations between dependent and independent variables were done using Pearson chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: The results indicated 53% of the caregivers’ with good (high) knowledge in Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) activities, 98% with good (high) attitudes towards GMP activities and 70% with good (high) practices in GMP. Also, 16.2% of caregivers’ children had faltered in growth. Occupation was associated with knowledge (p=.013), and attitude (p=.014). Again, educational status (p=.026) was associated with knowledge in GMP, marital status (p=.009) and child relation with caregiver (p=.021) were associated with attitude in GMP. Also tribe (p=.019) and child relation with caregiver (p=.019) were significantly associated with practices in GMP. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the achievement in the coverage of GMP, implementation of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) program and Information, Education and Communication (IE&C) activities in district, the findings on GMP outcome (knowledge and practice) is not satisfactorily. District Health Directorate need to intensify and strengthen IYCF activities, home visits, health education, and growth monitoring and promotion services.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Caregivers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Child Growth Monitoring and Promotion Activities in Lawra District, Upper West Region of Ghana
    AU  - Debora Tuobom Debuo
    AU  - Prince Kubi Appiah
    AU  - Margaret Kweku
    AU  - Geoffrey Adebayo Asalu
    AU  - Seth Yao Ahiabor
    AU  - Wisdom Kwami Takramah
    AU  - Abdulai Bonchel Duut
    Y1  - 2017/01/04
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 20
    EP  - 30
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170501.13
    AB  - Background: Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) activities serve as an important platform for the implementation of child survival interventions to reduce malnutrition, infectious diseases and death among children. In recent times, there has been a steady decline in GMP outcome indicators in the Lawra district. The appropriate practices of GMP help in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers towards child nutrition and health. Therefore, this study seeks to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of growth monitoring and promotion and associated factors among caregivers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to study 300 caregivers’. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants. A semi-structured questionnaire applying face to face interview approach was used to collect data from participants. Descriptive statistics and associations between dependent and independent variables were done using Pearson chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: The results indicated 53% of the caregivers’ with good (high) knowledge in Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) activities, 98% with good (high) attitudes towards GMP activities and 70% with good (high) practices in GMP. Also, 16.2% of caregivers’ children had faltered in growth. Occupation was associated with knowledge (p=.013), and attitude (p=.014). Again, educational status (p=.026) was associated with knowledge in GMP, marital status (p=.009) and child relation with caregiver (p=.021) were associated with attitude in GMP. Also tribe (p=.019) and child relation with caregiver (p=.019) were significantly associated with practices in GMP. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the achievement in the coverage of GMP, implementation of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) program and Information, Education and Communication (IE&C) activities in district, the findings on GMP outcome (knowledge and practice) is not satisfactorily. District Health Directorate need to intensify and strengthen IYCF activities, home visits, health education, and growth monitoring and promotion services.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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