Utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services and associated factors among mothers of children younger than 2 years in Gondar Zuria District, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based, cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 14; no. 2; p. e076147
• Main Authors: Belew, Aysheshim Kassahun, Worku, Netsanet, Gelaye, Kassahun Alemu, Gonete, Kedir Abdela, Tamir Hunegnaw, Melkamu, Muhammad, Esmael Ali, Astale, Tigist, Mitike, Getnet, Abebe, Zegeye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 08-02-2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Original research
• Subjects: Age; Caregivers; Children & youth; Community child health; Community Health Services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Ethiopia; Families & family life; Female; Health Facilities; Humans; Infant; Knowledge; Low income groups; Malnutrition; Mothers; Nutrition; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Nutrition and Metabolism; Primary Health Care; Public health; Questionnaires; Sample size; Sampling techniques; Supervisors; Ethiopia; PUBLIC HEALTH; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Primary Health Care; Nutrition; Community child health
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076147

ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess the utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services and the associated factors among mothers of children under 2 years old in Gondar Zuria District, northwest Ethiopia.DesignCommunity-based, cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted in Gondar Zuria District, Central Gondar Zone. Data collection was conducted from 10 March to 5 April 2022.Participants576 mother–child pairs, recruited via a multistage, stratified random sampling technique.Outcome measures and analysisUtilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services was the outcome of the study. Data were entered into Epi Info V.7 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.24.0 for further analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with utilisation of growth monitoring services. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant for the outcome variable.ResultsThe utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services among children aged 0–23 months was 26.6% (95% CI 22.9, 30.2). Health centre delivery (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.56; 95% CI 1.02, 2.68), postnatal care visits (AOR=3.13; 95% CI 1.99, 4.90), regular growth monitoring and promotion sessions (AOR=6.53; 95% CI 2.43, 9.34), and wealth status (AOR=5.98; 95% CI 3.09, 10.58) were significantly associated with utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services.ConclusionLess than one in three children aged 0–23 months saw utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services in the study setting. Birthplace, postnatal care follow-up, regular growth promotion and monitoring sessions, and wealth status were associated with utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services. Enhancing skilled birth delivery, promoting postnatal care follow-up and expanding the availability of growth monitoring and promotion outreach sites could be useful to improve the utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services.