612 Completeness of maintaining the Child Health Development Record (CHDR) and assess the knowledge and attitudes in Tertiary Hospital, Sri Lanka

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 108; no. Suppl 2; pp. A312 - A313
• Main Authors: LIyanarachchi, Manoj Sanjeewa, Nalika De Silva, Buddhika Mahesh, Kankananarchchi, Imalke, Damboragama, Rajeeka Nethmini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Age; Breast feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Caregivers; Child Health; Children; Childrens health; Dental hygiene; Education; Educational Attainment; Ethnic Groups; Hygiene; Information Sources; Knowledge; Minority & ethnic groups; Pediatrics; Questionnaires; Statistical analysis; Vision Tests; Sri Lanka
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-rcpch.493
• ISSN: 0003-9888

ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the completeness of maintaining the Child Health Development Record (CHDR). Further, it assessed the knowledge and attitudes related to it among caregivers of children between 6–24 months of age admitted to paediatric wards of Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Colombo, Sri Lanka.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in all paediatric wards in LRH from October 2018 to July 2019 on caregivers with children aged 6–24 months. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards messages given in CHDR and completeness of components mentioned in it.ResultsOf the 425 participants, 20 questionnaire were excluded due to incomplete data. The mean age of the babies of the participants was 13.3 months and 215(53%) were females. The mean number of living children in a families included in study was 1.9. The mean maternal age was 25.3 years. Of the caregivers 80.2% had completed their secondary or higher education. Sinhalese were the ethnic majority(55%) followed by Moors(25.1%) and Tamils(19.7%). Most(42%) had a monthly income between 30,000–40,000 Sri Lankan Rupees. Caregivers had satisfactory knowledge on growth, development and breast feeding. Knowledge was not satisfactory on hearing and visual screening, complementary feeding, warning signs of newborn, dental hygiene and parenting. Pictures on demonstration of breast feeding and complementary feeding were comprehensible to most. A statistically significant higher overall knowledge on CHDR observed with higher level of education(p=0.000), higher financial status(P=0.000) and in some ethnic groups(P=0.001).Details of birth were mentioned in almost all CHDR but only 64.7% had documented newborn examination. Monthly weighing of the baby was continued by 75.8%. Nearly half had properly filled visual(52.8%) and hearing(57%) assessments.ConclusionThe CHDR is used as a tool for health education, monitoring, action and for maintaining the continuity between different levels of healthcare. The use of CHDR as an information source should be improved. Higher level of education favours a more satisfactory knowledge on CHDR.