Non-adherence to growth monitoring and promotion sessions amongst caregivers of children under 5 years in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo province

South African Family Practice

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Non-adherence to growth monitoring and promotion sessions amongst caregivers of children under 5 years in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo province
 
Creator Mphasha, Mabitsela H. Rapetsoa, Matjie Mathebula, Nkhaviso Makua, Kamogelo Mazibuko, Sanele
 
Subject primary care growth monitoring and promotion; non-adherence; caregivers; stunting; sessions
Description Background: Child growth is crucial for nutritional and health status; poor growth may result in stunting. South Africa experiences a high prevalence of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and late identification of growth faltering. Non-adherence to growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) sessions remains a challenge and caregivers contribute to non-adherence. Therefore, this study explores factors affecting the non-adherence of GMP services.Methods: Qualitative approach and phenomenological exploratory study design were used. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 23 participants conveniently sampled. Sampling size was dependent on data saturation. Voice recorders were used to capture data. Tesch’s eight steps, inductive, descriptive and open coding techniques were used to analyse data. Measures of trustworthiness were ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.Results: Participants indicated non-adherence to GMP sessions because of a lack of knowledge of the importance of adherence and poor service by healthcare workers, which includes long waiting hours. Inconsistent availability of GMP services at healthcare facilities and growth of the firstborn children with non-adherence to GMP sessions are factors influencing participants’ adherence. A lack of transportation and lunch money also contributed to non-adherence to sessions.Conclusion: A lack of knowledge of the importance of adherence to GMP sessions, long waiting hours and inconsistent availability of GMP services at facilities contributed enormously to non-adherence. Therefore, the Department of Health must ensure consistent availability of GMP services to demonstrate the importance and enable adherence. Healthcare facilities should reduce waiting hours to minimise the need for lunch money, and service delivery audits should be conducted to identify other factors contributing to non-adherence to address these.Contribution: Primary health care providers should conduct service delivery audits and internal surveys to identify factors that contribute to non-adherence in order to introduce measures to address them. 
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor none
Date 2023-02-20
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — qualitative
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/safp.v65i1.5523
 
Source South African Family Practice; Vol 65, No 1 (2023): Part 1; 7 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5523/7849 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5523/7850 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5523/7851 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5523/7852
 
Coverage Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa 2021 Caregivers of children under five years
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Mabitsela H. Mphasha, Matjie Rapetsoa, Nkhaviso Mathebula, Kamogelo Makua, Sanele Mazibuko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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