The first-year B Nursing students from the North-West University (NWU) at the School of Nursing Science (SoNS) at the Potchefstroom campus donated length- and height measuring charts to eight clinics in and around Potchefstroom.
One of the outcomes of their practical modules in community health nursing requires the first-year nursing students to measure, record, and interpret the weight, length/height, head circumference, and mid-upper-arm-circumference (Muac) of babies and children from birth to five years of age. The measurements aid in assessing their growth and development. They then record these measurements in the Road to Health Book (RTHB) of the Department of Health (DoH), also called the Side-by-Side, on the applicable growth charts and tables. The students then provide health education to the parents/caregivers and refer them to members of the multidisciplinary team or other community resources as needed.
All health workers need to record (plot) the weight and the length/height of babies and children at regular intervals as indicated in the RTHB to identify babies and children who are underweight, severely underweight, wasted, or severely wasted. Malnutrition is one of the conditions that cause a very high mortality rate in Africa and the rest of the world. By using this approach, health workers help parents, caregivers, and the entire community to improve the growth and development of their children.
The nursing students and NWU staff have identified a need for measuring charts at the clinics. They have decided to donate two colourful length and height measuring charts to every clinic. The length of babies from birth to two years of age is measured with a length chart while the babies are lying on the clinic bed. The height of children older than two years who can stand on their own is measured with a height chart.
Anneke-Therese Swart, a lecturer at the School of Nursing Science, says the staff and students at the NWU SoNS want to encourage other health disciplines also to focus on the basics, like effective measuring of the length or height of babies and children and provide parents and caregivers with health education to ensure healthy babies and children. “We want to ensure healthy babies and children are a part of a healthy community. NWU’s first-year nursing students also thank all the clinics’ staff for their help and support. It is greatly appreciated,” says Swart.
