Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is a preventive activity that uses growth monitoring in measuring and interpreting childhood growth and development. GMP is meant for children 0 to 59 months of age. Available data indicates that the majority of children stop attending growth monitoring programs when they finish the immunization schedule at 23 months. GMP approach has shown to have a positive effect on promulgating improvement in the health of children as it helps to detect health challenges affecting children at an early stage. However, factors affecting continuation of GM after 23 months in children have not been fully investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess deterring factors that hinder continuation of growth monitoring activities among children after the age of 23 months to 59 months. 

Methodology 

This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Mulanje district Malawi. The study involved 116 mothers and caregivers of children aged 24 -59 Months attending care that were attending care at Chonde Primary Health Care Centre in Mulanje district. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, entered into an excel database and analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). 

This study found that 38.8% of the study population constituted mothers/caregivers of children less than 18years of age, 31.9% were aged of 18-35years and 11% were >35 years of age. Of these eighty five percent of them were biological parents of which 80% were married.  Of the study population 31% were living closer to the health facility and seem to be patronizing GMP regularly.

Of the study population 72.4% had no knowledge of GM as a means of following up growth trajectory of a child. Despite having some knowledge, 57.8% of the caregivers did not see any benefits of continued GM post immunisation period of note is that 63.8% had inadequate knowledge understanding the interpretation of the child growth monitoring chart

This study showed low proportion of mothers who had better understanding of GM as a key driver of effective intervention for proper childhood growth and development. It is thus essential to emphasize health education and promotion to communities so as to improve child health in the communities.

Idah Mzama is a Professional Nurse from Malawi, the Southern part of Africa. She is a Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Catholic University of Malawi, Blantyre city, Malawi. She has a Master’s Degree in Child Health Community Pediatrics obtained from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Health Science Education obtained from Mzuzu University, Malawi. She also holds a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery obtained from the Malawi College of Health Sciences, Malawi. Additionally, to these, she has a certificate in Mental Health Nursing obtained from the Malawi College of Health Sciences and a Certificate in Economic Evaluation in Global Health from the University of Washington, USA.

She has 32 years of experience in the field of Health as Bedside Nurse and Midwife for 17 years and as Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery for 15 years. Her expertise is mainly in Maternal and Child Health focusing on the prevention of illness and improving access to healthcare services for women and children in underserved communities. She has published in her field and is a peer reviewer of different reputable journals.