The Growth Charts: Omans Experience

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The Growth Charts Omans Experience

• Ms. Hanadi J Al Rajab
• Head, Dietetics Section
• Ministry of Health - Oman

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Sultanate of Oman

• Growth Curves
• Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) Oman
• Baseline Study

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The Current Charts

• Weight-for-age
• Separate for boys girls
• NCHS/WHO standards
• Based on standard deviation value system
• Cut-off points 2 SD , - 3 SD

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The Child Health Card

• Growth charts Weight (0-72 months)
• Head circumference Length (intervals)
• Birth details
• Immunization schedule
• Special care details
• Clinic visits
• Developmental examination schedule

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Growth Monitoring

• Child growth is monitored through
• Child Health Register (MR 2)
• PEM Program (Register monthly reports)
• Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI)
• Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses
  (IMCI)
• Triple A activities (Assessment - Analysis -
  Action)

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School Health Program

• School children 6-18 years
• NCHS/WHO
• Weight-for-age
• Height-for-age
• Student Health Record
• Monitoring at grades 1, 7 10

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Program Implementation

• National PEM Survey (1999)
• 17.9 underweight
• 7 wasting
• 6 stunting
• National program for management of PEM
• SOP for management of PEM in primary secondary
  health care services in Oman (ML 38), 2nd ed.
  2004
• Follow-up occurs through community support
  volunteers

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Problems faced

• Lack of equipments
• Lack of trained personnel
• High staff turnover
• Insufficient time during monitoring session

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Uses of growth charts

• Planning
• Resource allocation
• Development of Manual of Training of
  Anthropometric Measurements for Adults
  Bedridden Patients

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The Pink Card, revised

• Immunization schedule
• Schedule of visits
• Growth charts
• Length/height

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Recommendation

• Chart to include child birth details,
  immunization records, clinic visits, feeding
  practices, supplementation development
  milestones
• Clear guidelines for management action
• Training of health workers on anthropometry
  measurements
• Emphasis on parental understanding of the curves

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Thank you