Why monitoring children's growth is important

By Ma. Anna Rita M. Ramirez

FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service

Do you know that the period of infancy up to age two is a period of rapid physical growth?

lnfancy is a critical period in the health and nutrition of children since food intake should match the increased requirements for energy and protein at this age.

More than providing children with age-appropriate energy-dense complementary foods on top of continuous breastfeeding even at age six months and older, their growth should be monitored closely by health personnel.

It is therefore alarming that the 2011 regional survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) reports that only 53.3 percent of households participated in growth monitoring activities.

The FNRI report said that about half of the children was not checked by health personnel.

Likewise, their parents may not have been informed of the importance of growth monitoring.

According to the same report, "growth monitoring is the regular measurement of weights of children using growth charts where measurements are plotted".

Monitoring and plotting the weights of a child monthly give an idea whether the child is growing within standard or age-appropriate weights.

Any deviation from the standard may be a cause for alarm, as this can demonstrate growth faltering—either towards becoming underweight or overweight.

Growth monitoring is a regular activity conducted by midwives and barangay health or nutrition workers in rural health units and by doctors in private clinics. Parents should take advantage of this free health service to ensure the normal growth of their children. It is important to determine the cause of growth faltering so that immediate remedy can be offered.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.; FNRI Facebook page: facebook.com/FNRI-DOST; FNRI Twitter account: twitter.com/FNRI-DOST

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