title: Knowledge and practices of pre-school teachers on growth monitoring program--South Africa.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine knowledge and practices of pre-school teachers on growth monitoring. A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and post-test intervention study was conducted in eight conveniently selected government subsidized pre-schools in Vhembe and Mopani districts of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Fifteen pre-school teachers participated in the study. An intervention in a form of nutrition education lessons on growth monitoring was developed and implemented. Pre-school teachers completed a knowledge test questionnaire prior to the lessons. The intervention also included the following training skills: procedure to take anthropometric measurements and plotting the Road to Health Chart. About 67% teachers understood the importance of growth monitoring at baseline. The results also showed an improvement 6 months after intervention. All (100%) teachers knew that growth monitoring can be used for diagnosing undernutrition. The results also showed an improvement in skills, such as the procedure to take anthropometric measurements. Knowledge and practices of teachers on growth monitoring were improved by nutrition education 6 months after intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Venda, P/bAG X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo, South Africa tshifhiwa.mandiwana@univen.ac.za.
authors.forename: Tshifhiwa Cynthia
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mandiwana
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Maitland, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Xikombiso G
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Mbhenyane
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Venda, P/bAG X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lindelani Fhumudzani
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Mushaphi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Venda, P/bAG X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ngoako Solomon
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mabapa
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005178:Faculty; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anthropometry; growth monitoring; pre-school teachers