Action for tackling malnutrition: growth monitoring or surveillance?

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition is an important Public Health problem globally as well as in India. Mortality is a multi-causal phenomenon in which malnutrition is but one factor directly or indirectly contributing 55% mortality of children under-five years of age. Authors observed higher prevalence of severe degree of Malnutrition in the underserved section of population with specific reference to girl child, under 3 years of age, where there were large number of children in the family, repeated infections and Measles. Growth monitoring Services in the ICDS scheme meant only weight recording and was not at all satisfactory. Even the majority of the Anganwadi workers (AWW) stated that it meant monthly weight recording of children while only few knew it is in addition plotting these on growth charts and advising mothers if growth was not proper. Around 60% of caregivers did not know about growth monitoring. The concept of growth monitoring should be changed to Growth surveillance to emphasize more on the action components of it.