Mothers’ Participation in Improving Growth and Nutrition of the Children: a Model for Community Participation

Abstract

Background: Assessment of national children growth has shown that a high percent of Country's children are afflicted to growth failure. Community participation is one of the principles of PHC emphasized by WHO that is necessary for develop­ment of health services. The objective of this study was to develop a model for mother's participation in order to improving growth and nutrition of children.

Methods: This community-based field trial was rendered on 74 pairs of mothers and children less than three years of age. A model was designed for increasing mother's participation, so that, a group of mother's volunteered and were instructed in the subjects of growth monitoring and child nutrition. The program was evaluated by CIPP Model (Context, Input, Product, Proc­ess).

Results: Difference between the mean grade of mothers' knowledge and practice, before and after intervention were mean­ing­ful (P< 0.001).This plan had considerable effects on the increase of individual and social capabilities of the partici­pants, including their self-confidence. Other findings were related to the evaluation of impact, effectiveness, sustainability and transportability of the program.

Conclusion: By enhancement of mother's participation, considerable improvement of their knowledge and practice concern­ing growth and nutrition of children were achieved. Also individual and social capabilities of the mothers' in­creased.