Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is a key strategy to prevent under nutrition in children under-five. However, GMP utilisation among children aged 24–59 months in Malawi remains low, with limited evidence on its determinants. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of GMP utilisation among caregivers of children aged 24–59 months at Mzuzu Urban Health Centre, Malawi. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2022 among 387 caregivers attending under-five clinics at a single urban health centre in Malawi. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and verified using health passports. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with GMP utilisation. The prevalence of GMP utilisation was 39% (95% CI: 34–44%). Factors independently associated with GMP utilisation were children aged 24–35 months (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.55–4.05), caregiver age ≤ 35 years (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.33–5.79), secondary education (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.10–2.86), high GMP-related knowledge (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.23–3.27) receipt of nutrition counselling (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.70–4.98). GMP utilisation among caregivers of children aged 24–59 months attending this urban health facility was low, although general awareness of GMP was high. Utilisation was associated with child age, caregiver age, secondary education, GMP-related knowledge, and receipt of nutrition counselling. Targeted improvements in caregiver education, growth- chart interpretation support, and routine counselling may help strengthen GMP utilisation in similar facility-based settings in Malawi.
Mapunda et al. (Mon,) studied this question.