A study of factors contributing to low attendance of children aged between 1 -5 years at growth monitoring programmes in Kitwe, Zambia.

Abstract

A study of factors contributing to low attendance at growth monitoring programmes among children aged between 1-5 years was done in Kitwe, 2 Health Centres were randomly selected for the study. At the Health Centres a sample of 70 mothers with children aged between 1-5 years were systematically selected. The total sample was 85 including 15 health workers. Focus group discussion was also done to complement the study findings. The study revealed that there are various factors contributing to low attendance. It has been observed that the phenomena is related /to mothers education and social status. Among the most common reasons given for low attendance were laziness, which was interpreted as Inability to perceive the value and benefits of growth monitoring programmes. Another factor was difficulty in walking to the health centre with more than 1 under five. Other important factors included long waiting times at clinics, long queues created by over crowding, shortage of scales and staff shortage. Much of the Information obtained makes this study important to the health personnel and programme planners in particular. It is therefore hoped that the information will be useful to all those concerned.