Longitudinal growth patterns of Pakistani infants in a clinic based growth promotion program.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the operation of growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) clinic and longitudinal growth patterns of children.


METHODS
Prospective observation and intervention.


METHODS
Outpatient department of a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Less than 6 months old infants were registered at GMP clinic and followed for up to two years of age. Mothers were provided information, education and counselling about healthy growth of their infants. The outcome measure was change in weight after follow-up.


RESULTS
We enrolled a cohort of 553 children in the first 6 months of life, of which 318 were males. Mean follow up period was 15.7 (SD+/-6.4) months. At enrollment 207 were underweight [weight-for-age Z score (WAZ<-2], of which 153 were from low-income families. The children from poorer families also gained weight regularly, although it was less than the higher income families. Of 346 infants with normal weight at registration, 305 maintained their weight gain by last follow-up visit. Of 207 underweight infants at enrollment 128 improved their weight gain by the last follow-up visit. Overall 433 infants followed-up at our GMP clinic either maintained or improved their weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Children at risk of undernutrition should be identified at an early age and through effective interaction between health workers and the family, their growth can be improved. Children of poor families can also benefit from this activity, provided a comprehensive approach is made available.
Qazi
Shamim A
SA
Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, G-8/3, Islamabad, Pakistan. qazis@who.int
Khan
Mushtaq A
MA
Rizvi
Talat
T
Khatoon
Zubaida
Z
Peterson
Karen E
KE
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D010154:Pakistan; D011336:Probability; D016730:Program Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors