Care Giver Determinants of Utilization of Growth Monitoring Clinic Among Children Aged 12-59 Months in Urban Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study to assess the utilization of growth monitoring clinic services and care givers determinants of utilization of growth monitoring clinic services among children aged 12-59 months in urban area, Kiambu County Kenya. Three hundred and eighty four (384) children aged 12- 59 months were sampled using simple random sampling method. The caregiver who brought each child to the health facility consented for participation and responded to the questionnaire. The results showed that majority of caregivers who brought children aged 12- 59 months to the health facilities were females aged 20-30 years. The respondents lacked awareness on rationale of utilization of growth monitoring clinic services among children aged12-59 months. Results revealed utilization of clinic services declined as the children grew older. Also the results showed there was low utilization of growth monitoring services as only 20% respondents in Thika Sub-County said children aged attended clinic for growth monitoring services. Chi-square results were χ2=3.421, df= 6, p= 0.755. Further, results indicated care givers took children to the health facility to seek treatment for childhood illness among other health problems. Thus the major motivation for care givers to take children aged 12-59 months to the health facility was to seek treatment of illnesses and not to seek growth monitoring clinic services as expected.