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Trázalo y lo verás! La comprensión materna de las gráficas de crecimiento a nivel mundial
Author(s) -
Roberfroid D.,
Pelto G. H.,
Kolsteren P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01890.x
Subject(s) - comprehension , health literacy , medicine , latin americans , developing country , promotion (chess) , cochrane library , chart , literacy , medline , medical education , psychology , alternative medicine , political science , health care , economic growth , pedagogy , computer science , statistics , mathematics , pathology , politics , law , economics , programming language
Summary Objective To evaluate maternal comprehension of growth charts used in growth monitoring and promotion (GMP), a worldwide programme with important budgets but contrasting results. Methods Systematic literature review through MEDLINE, POPLINE, Global Health, ERIC and the Cochrane Library with the keywords ‘growth monitoring’ or ‘growth chart’ limited to the title/abstract field and to the 0–5 years age range. Results Twenty studies from Asia (8), Africa (8) and Latin America/Caribbean (3) were included in the review. The results of the 14 non‐intervention, cross‐sectional studies provide convincing evidence that a third to three‐fourths of carers in developing countries do not understand the growth charts. Literacy had a strong effect on women’s ability to interpret the cards. Appropriate training and educational activities also increased substantially maternal comprehension as demonstrated in five of the six intervention trials. Conclusions Many carers have poor comprehension of growth charts, but their comprehension increases not only with literacy, but also with training. Activities aimed at improving communication skills of health staff and at empowering parents to practice responsive parenting could greatly improve GMP outcomes.