A cross sectional study on utilisation of the mother-child health booklet by healthcare workers and caregivers at Mbagathi District Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The Mother Child Health (MCH) booklet is a home-based record for an expectant mother and subsequently the child. The primary objective was to determine the fill-in rate of the various sections of the booklet. The secondary objectives were to determine the socio-demographic factors of the caregivers that affect the utilization of the MCH booklet and the barriers to its utilization.

Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study at Mbagathi District Hospital, Kenya. A predesigned questionnaire was administered to caregivers of children aged 2-12 months and healthcare workers. The booklet was scrutinized using a checklist to ascertain the information recorded. Proportions were used for the fill-in-rate. Univariate associations were calculated using Chi-square test. A logistic regression model was used for multivariate association.

Results: A total of 322 mother-child pairs and 6 health workers were enrolled. The fill-in-rate was as follows; ‘particulars of the child’ (97.8%), ‘immunization’ (99.1%), weight for age chart (99.7%) and height for age chart (97.8%). Two sections were not filled in at all. There was a strong association between utilization and caregiver level of education and a history of previous child loss. The barriers to utilization by healthcare workers were heavy workload and lack of training.

Conclusion: The filling-in rate of the MCH booklet was poor with adequate filling in of only 5 out of 19 sections. Reading of the booklet by caregivers was strongly associated with caregiver’s level of education.