Nursing Staff's Understanding and Application of Road to Health Booklet’s Nutrition Elements in Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
1
Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
ABSTRACT Authors : Makwela MS & Mashigo R Topic : Nursing Staff's Understanding and Application of Road to Health Booklet’s Nutrition Elements in Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
BACKGROUND:
The Road to Health Booklet (RtHB) plays a vital role in monitoring children's health, growth, and development, especially for those under five years who face heightened risks of malnutrition and infectious diseases. RtHB maintains essential health records supporting prevention efforts, early risk detection, treatment interactions, health promotion, caregiver empowerment, and coordination across health services. Nursing staff often struggle with content comprehension, completion standards, and effective application. This research evaluated nurses' knowledge and practices concerning RtHB's nutrition components and influencing factors.
METHODS:
Researchers evaluated nursing staff's understanding and application of RtHB's nutrition elements, plus influencing factors. A quantitative cross-sectional survey used convenience sampling for clinics and consecutive selection for 107 participants, with SPSS-based Chi-square analysis for associations.
RESULTS:
Mean age was 43.9 years (±9.4), predominantly female, with 57.9% professional nurses and 24.3% registered. Experience levels: 60.1% (7-10 years), 31.2% (1-6 years), 7.5% (>10 years). Most (74.7%) trained via Department of Health sessions (covering growth plotting, interpretation, anthropometrics, and immunizations), plus nursing schools (18.7%) or universities (6.5%). Knowledge distribution: moderate (~40%), low (35.5%), high (25.2%). Practice levels: good (77.6%), excellent (10.3%). Strong knowledge significantly predicted better practices (p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS:
The study revealed a moderate level of knowledge and fair practices among participants on the use of the nutritional component of RtHB. However, their ability to accurately use the nutrition component was average. The nurses with a better understanding of the nutritional component were more likely to put their knowledge into practice than those with less knowledge.
ABSTRACT Authors : Makwela MS & Mashigo R Topic : Nursing Staff's Understanding and Application of Road to Health Booklet’s Nutrition Elements in Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
BACKGROUND:
The Road to Health Booklet (RtHB) plays a vital role in monitoring children's health, growth, and development, especially for those under five years who face heightened risks of malnutrition and infectious diseases. RtHB maintains essential health records supporting prevention efforts, early risk detection, treatment interactions, health promotion, caregiver empowerment, and coordination across health services. Nursing staff often struggle with content comprehension, completion standards, and effective application. This research evaluated nurses' knowledge and practices concerning RtHB's nutrition components and influencing factors.
METHODS:
Researchers evaluated nursing staff's understanding and application of RtHB's nutrition elements, plus influencing factors. A quantitative cross-sectional survey used convenience sampling for clinics and consecutive selection for 107 participants, with SPSS-based Chi-square analysis for associations.
RESULTS:
Mean age was 43.9 years (±9.4), predominantly female, with 57.9% professional nurses and 24.3% registered. Experience levels: 60.1% (7-10 years), 31.2% (1-6 years), 7.5% (>10 years). Most (74.7%) trained via Department of Health sessions (covering growth plotting, interpretation, anthropometrics, and immunizations), plus nursing schools (18.7%) or universities (6.5%). Knowledge distribution: moderate (~40%), low (35.5%), high (25.2%). Practice levels: good (77.6%), excellent (10.3%). Strong knowledge significantly predicted better practices (p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS:
The study revealed a moderate level of knowledge and fair practices among participants on the use of the nutritional component of RtHB. However, their ability to accurately use the nutrition component was average. The nurses with a better understanding of the nutritional component were more likely to put their knowledge into practice than those with less knowledge.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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