THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A directive has been issued to ‘anganwadis’ instructing them that the preparation of the growth chart of children from birth to five years of age, or weight growth monitoring, is one of their most important function. The new directive comes in the wake of reports that growth charts are virtually non-existent in most of the anganwadis in the state. Sources in the Social Justice Department said that less than 50 percent of anganwadis have maintained growth charts.
“Growth monitoring is a regular measurement of growth which enables mothers to visualise growth, or lack of it, and obtain specific, relevant and practical growth guidance to ensure continued regular growth and health of children,” said an ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) official on the condition of anonymity. Increase in the size or height is the normal intuitive way of sensing a child’s growth.
“However, these cannot tell us if the child is growing well enough for its age,” the official said. Therefore, the most accurate measure of growth is weight gain. “By weighing a child regularly, a change of even one to two hundred grams can be observed. This weight change is not visible by any other means of measuring growth,” the official said.
Growth monitoring involves regular plotting of the weight of a child on a chart. Each point is joined to form a curve called the “growth curve”. If the curve moves upwards, it means there is healthy growth. But if the line is flat or faltering, it is a signal to take timely action. An internal audit conducted by the Social Justice Department has also found that there are not enough workers skilled at preparing growth charts.
Growth monitoring involves five steps: determining the correct age of the child; accurate weighing of the child, plotting the weight accurately on the growth chart, interpretation of the chart; and discussion of the child's growth and follow-up action. Child development officers and anganwadi supervisors have been asked to train workers to prepare growth charts.
