https://doi.org/10.4081/acbr.2021.155

Knowledge, availability and utilization of growth monitoring facilities in urban and rural health facilities in Enugu State, South East Nigeria: A survey of nursing mothers

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2021)
Submitted: 14 July 2021
Accepted: 21 August 2021
Published: 7 September 2021
Growth monitoring, health centers, Enugu, Nigeria
Abstract Views: 512
PDF: 229
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Authors

Ngozi Praise Ezeala-Adikaibe
birinusadikaibe@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-6932
Health Visiting Unit, Department of Community Medicine University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu; Department of Public Health Education Enugu State University of Science and Technology Agbani Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria.
Joy Eze
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1708-9182
Department of Pediatrics University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria.
Obumneme Benaiah Ezeanosike
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Adaeze Ayuk
Department of Pediatrics University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria.
Birinus Ezeala-Adikaibe
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1185-6528
Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.

Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the highest rates of child mortality compared to the rest of the world’s regions. The usefulness of growth monitoring cuts across all areas of pediatric care and remains the pivot for prevention of childhood diseases and prevention untoward mortality. This study therefore aimed at determining the availability of growth monitoring facilities, and knowledge and utilization of such facilities among mothers attending rural and urban health facilities in Enugu state. This was a cross sectional descriptive survey of mothers done in selected urban and rural government health facilities using the multi-stage sampling method. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Conclusions were drawn at a level of significance, p<0.05 at 95% Confidence interval. A total of 440 mothers were recruited for the study; 330 (75%) were from urban and 110 (25%) from rural locations. Mothers in urban centers exhibited higher knowledge (84%, VHL) of growth monitoring facilities than those in rural areas, p=0.04. Growth monitoring facilities were more available in urban areas compared to rural areas, p<0.01. However, growth monitoring facilities were more utilized by mothers in rural areas than in urban locations. Although GM facilities were more available in urban health centers in Enugu state. These facilities were less utilized especially in the urban areas even though mothers demonstrated were very knowledge about these facilities.

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How to Cite

Ezeala-Adikaibe, N. P. ., Eze, J. ., Ezeanosike, O. B., Ayuk, A., & Ezeala-Adikaibe, B. (2021). Knowledge, availability and utilization of growth monitoring facilities in urban and rural health facilities in Enugu State, South East Nigeria: A survey of nursing mothers. Annals of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/acbr.2021.155

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