Abstract:
Background: Growth monitoring is one of the health priorities in assessing the growth rate of
a child. Appropriate growth monitoring and promotion services enable health professionals to
control growth faltering and child mortality. However, there is limited information on the
growth monitoring practice of health professionals and their associated factors in Bale Zone
public health facilities.
Objective: This study aimed to assess growth monitoring practices and associated factors
among health professionals in Bale zone public health facilities, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia.
Method: An institutional-based mixed-methods study was conducted using multistage
sampling techniques from May 31 to August 10, 2023, among 513 participants. Data was
collected through a pretested, structured questionnaire, an observational checklist, and indepth interviews. The collected data were cleaned, entered into Epi-data version 4.6, and
exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis, and binary logistic regression was employed.
Those variables with a p-value less than 0.25 were fitted to the multivariable analysis. Factors
associated were declared at an AOR of 95% CI and a p-value less than 0.05. Qualitative data
was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results were presented using texts, tables & figures.
Results: Five hundred eight health professionals participated, with a response rate of 99% and
a mean age of 31.78. Of the total study participants, 63.4% [95% CI: 59–68%] had good
growth monitoring practices. Work experience of 11 or more years [AOR = 5.26; CI: 3.14,
8.84], those who had good knowledge [AOR = 5.11; CI: 3.00, 8.71], a favorable attitude [AOR
= 2.58; CI: 1.33, 5.00], those who took training [AOR = 3.98; CI: 2.47, 6.43], and growth
monitoring equipment [AOR =3.52; CI: 2.19, 5.67] were significantly associated with growth
monitoring practice. According to observation findings, the overall good growth monitoring
practice among health workers was 47.3% [95% CI: 39–56]. Additionally, factors from
qualitative findings are lack of separate growth monitoring rooms and insufficient supportive
supervision.
