Don't Ignore It! Doctors Reveal the Importance of Monitoring Children's Growth Curves

Pediatricians are highlighting the critical importance of regularly monitoring children's growth curves, stating that these charts are vital indicators of a child's health and nutritional status. Consistent tracking can also help in the early detection of any deviations in developmental progress. However, a significant issue is the frequent neglect of the growth monitoring sections within the Mother and Child Health (KIA) booklet, often due to inconsistent measurement practices.

Dr. dr I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani, a pediatrician specializing in child development and social pediatrics, noted that a common error is the incomplete filling of the KIA booklet's growth curve. "The first thing we notice is that the KIA book used for growth curves is often empty. Growth is sometimes measured, sometimes not," she said during a webinar hosted by the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI).

Dr. Trisna explained that weight-for-age curves can be plotted by health cadres during Posyandu (integrated health post) activities. If a child misses a Posyandu visit, measurements can still be taken during consultations with pediatricians or general practitioners. "If they don't go to Posyandu, at the pediatrician or general practitioner, please explain to the patients, to the mothers, to their parents," Dr. Trisna urged healthcare providers.

She stressed that healthcare professionals must also assist parents in understanding how to read these growth curves, as many struggle with interpreting the graphs. For instance, explaining that a five-month-old's weight should ideally be around the median line (green line) helps parents gauge if their child's weight is appropriate or below average. "If parents themselves, they might be confused about the health curve. That is homework for us, to help parents understand what reading the curve means. For example, 'Mom, Dad, this weight is still below average!' This weight is only one point. It must be repeated, it must be continuous,' explain it," she advised.

The growth curve serves to assess a child's health and nutritional status. Regular monitoring allows healthcare providers to identify growth deviation risks earlier, track a child's growth trajectory over time rather than relying on single measurements, and determine appropriate interventions or referrals. Dr. Trisna emphasized the need for accurate standards, referencing guidelines from the Ministry of Health and highlighting the KIA booklet as an accessible tool. She also outlined proper methods for measuring weight, length, and head circumference, stressing the use of digital scales on flat surfaces and ensuring infants are weighed without clothing.