Maternal comprehension of home-based growth chart in Bahrain

The objectives of this study were to assess Bahrain mothers' understanding and interpretation of currently used home-based growth monitoring chart, and how their education effects their comprehension of it. A sample of 472 mothers of children who were less than 6 years old were selected from 18 health centres in Bahrain. About 73% brought the growth chart with them during their visits. The education of the mothers had a significant effect on the comprehension of the growth chart. Highly-educated mothers were more likely to read the information in the growth chart (69%) than middle (52%) and low-educated mothers (16%) (P<0.0001). Also highly-educated mothers got more benefit from the growth chart (P<0.0001) and more of them understood the reason for the colour in the chart (P<0.0001) than other groups. The majority of husbands (85%) showed no interest in reading the growth chart. Of the mothers, 42% did not know at which age the growth chart should be used. It is important, therefore, that the current growth chart should be reviewed and the mothers and health workers should be involved in the process of designing the chart. Suggestions for improvement of the growth chart currently used were provided.