Today our topic of discussion is Growth Chart.
Growth Chart
GROWTH CHART
The Growth chart or ‘road to health chart first designed by David Morley and later modified by WHO. It is visible display of the child’s physical growth and development. It is designed primarily for the longitudinal follow up of a child (Figs. 34.7A and B).
Uses of Growth Chart
- Growth monitoring which is of great value in child health care
- It is used as diagnostic tool for identifying “high risk children”
- It helps planning and policy making in relation to child health care at the local and central levels
- Educational tool for the mother to participate more actively in growth monitoring .
- It helps the health worker on the type of intervention that is needed. It will help to make referrals easier
- It provides a good method to evaluate the impact of a program or of special interventions for improving child growth and development
- It is used as tool for teaching, for example, the importance of adequate feeding.
Alternative Methods of Growth Monitoring
The growth-chart or road to health chart is described as a passport to child healthcare. The Road to health chart helps to identify “at a glance”. It also provided on the card to record important events such as immunization, birth history and if any treatment given.
Growth-charting is only one method of growth monitoring; there are other indications such as height for age, weight for height and arm circumference.
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