Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
11:21
Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
A model for community-based growth monitoring system
M Faber1, A Oelofse, A S Benade
1National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, Medical Research Council, P. O. Box 19070, Tygerbnerg, 7505, South Africa, Phone: 27 21 938-0404, Fax: 27 21 938-032 Emal: mfaber@eagle .mrc.ac.za.
African Journal of Health Sciences
|June 22, 2007
Summary
A community-based health and growth monitoring system was established in rural South Africa for preschool children. This initiative, involving community centers and nutrition monitors, aims to improve child health and nutrition outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- A community in Ndunakazi, South Africa, requested a comprehensive situation analysis.
- A community-based growth and health monitoring system for preschool children was developed.
- The system utilizes community centers (Isizinda) and nutrition monitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a sustainable community-based growth and health monitoring system for preschool children.
- To improve child health and nutrition through a holistic approach.
- To assess the effectiveness and community acceptance of the developed model.
Main Methods:
- Situation analysis and objective-oriented program planning workshop with community representatives.
- Establishment of community-based centers (Isizinda) in homes.
- Regular growth monitoring, health and nutritional message dissemination by nutrition monitors.
- Referral system to clinics for ill or poorly growing children.
- Regular assessment of mother and monitor attitudes and skills development.
Main Results:
- Eight community centers established, serving approximately 500 preschool children.
- Average monthly attendance of 70% for growth monitoring.
- Nutrition monitors convey health messages and collect morbidity/mortality data.
- Positive attitudes towards the program and skills development observed.
Conclusions:
- The community-based model is effective in monitoring preschool child growth and health.
- Community involvement and nutrition monitors are key to the program's success.
- Partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is crucial for long-term sustainability and expansion.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Community Based Intervention
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:27Growth Models with Integration: Problem Solving
In population modeling, integration provides a systematic way to determine accumulated quantities from known rates of change. One such application arises in ecology, where the total weight of a fish population in a body of water is referred to as its biomass. When the rate of growth of this biomass is known as a function of time, calculus can be used to determine the total biomass at a future date.Growth Rate and Biomass FunctionLet the growth rate of the fish population be represented by a...
01:27Microbial Growth Measurement: Indirect Methods
Estimating microbial growth is essential for understanding population dynamics and environmental adaptations. Indirect methods provide valuable insights by measuring parameters such as turbidity, metabolic activity, and biomass, enabling efficient and reproducible assessments.During exponential growth, microbial cells scatter light proportionally to their biomass, a principle used in turbidity measurements. About one million cells per milliliter produce detectable scattering, which a...
01:23Microbial Growth Measurement: Direct Methods
Direct methods for measuring microbial populations in a culture are essential tools in microbiology, providing quantitative data for various applications. Among these, microscopic counts, plate counts, and serial dilution are widely used techniques, each with unique principles and applications.Microscopic CountsMicroscopic counting involves the use of a Petroff-Hausser chamber, a specialized microscope slide with a grid and defined depth. By observing a liquid culture under a microscope,...
01:29Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...
01:20Integrated Healthcare System
An integrated healthcare system (IHS) is a set of organizations that provides for or arranges to provide coordinated and continuous service to a defined population. The IHS takes responsibility for that particular population's health status and outcome, both clinically and fiscally. An integrated healthcare system is a well-organized, well-coordinated, and collaborative network. The integrated delivery system is a network that connects different healthcare providers to deliver organized,...