Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36893119›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Learning from health system actor and caregiver experiences in Ghana and Nepal to strengthen growth monitoring and promotion.

Akriti Singh, Kelsey A Torres, Nashna Maharjan, Jyoti Shrestha, Faith Agbozo, Abdulai Abubakari, Lutuf Abdul-Rahman, Altrena Mukuria-Ashe

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Akriti SinghUSAID Advancing Nutrition, Helen Keller International, New York, New York, United States of America.
Kelsey A TorresUSAID Advancing Nutrition, JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-3459-7701
Nashna MaharjanMother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal.ORCID 0000-0002-8702-7059
Jyoti ShresthaMother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal.
Faith AgbozoDepartment of Family and Community Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0001-7707-5658
Abdulai AbubakariDepartment of Global and International Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-7906-9419
Lutuf Abdul-RahmanUSAID Ghana, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.
Altrena Mukuria-AsheUSAID Advancing Nutrition, Save the Children, Washington, DC, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-6232-3698
Mother and Infant Research Activities · NPHelen Keller International · USSave the Children · USUniversity for Development Studies · GHUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences · GH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlobally, growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) of infants and young children is a fundamental component of routine preventive child health care; however, programs have experienced varying degrees of quality and success with enduring challenges. The objective of this study was to describe implementation of GMP (growth monitoring, growth promotion, data use, and implementation challenges) in two countries, Ghana and Nepal, to identify key actions to strengthen GMP programs.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with national and sub-national government officials (n = 24), health workers and volunteers (n = 40), and caregivers (n = 34). We conducted direct structured observations at health facilities (n = 10) and outreach clinics (n = 10) to complement information from interviews. We coded and analyzed interview notes for themes related to GMP implementation.

resultsHealth workers in Ghana (e.g., community health nurses) and Nepal (e.g., auxiliary nurse midwives) had the knowledge and skills to assess and analyze growth based on weight measurement. However, health workers in Ghana centered growth promotion on the growth trend (weight-for-age over time), whereas health workers in Nepal based growth promotion on measurement from one point in time to determine whether a child was underweight. Overlapping challenges included health worker time and workload. Both countries tracked growth-monitoring data systematically; however, there was variation in growth monitoring data use.

conclusionThis study shows that GMP programs may not always focus on the growth trend for early detection of growth faltering and preventive actions. Several factors contribute to this deviation from the intended goal of GMP. To overcome them, countries need to invest in both service delivery (e.g., decision-making algorithm) and demand generation efforts (e.g., integrate with responsive care and early learning).

Indexed as

CaregiversChild HealthChildChild, PreschoolGhanaHealth PersonnelHealth PromotionHumansInfantNepal

Identifiers

PMID36893119
PMCPMC9997959
OpenAlexW4323652676

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.