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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