Growth Charts
Management alone without any standard of comparison do not serve useful purpose. A number of standards have been developed to compare the measurement of any child with other children of the same'age, sex and race. Also the child's present measurements are compared with former rate of growth and pattern of progress. The standards laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Researcher are recommended for comparing the Indian children and are available as growth charts.
- Growth charts are used to assess the growth and thus the nutritional status of children.
- Growth charts have reference curves for purpose of comparison.
- Growth charts also provide space for recording information such as identification, date of.birth, birth weight, chronological age, immunization,
- introduction of supplementary food, episodes of sickness, child spacing and reasons for special care.
- It provides a visual record of the health and nutritional status of the child, which is easily understood by mother as well as the health workers.