Knowledge and Other Predictors of Child Welfare Clinic Completion among Children Aged 24-59 Months in the Garu-Tempane District of Northern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study of Caregivers.

Abstract

Background: While completion of the Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) schedule for children remains a crucial factor in the prevention of illness and promotion of better child health, there has been low attendance among caregivers in Ghana. This study examined knowledge of 220 caregivers of children aged 24-59 months on CWC and other factors influencing attendance in the Garu-Tempane District of Northern Ghana.

Methods: This health facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among caregivers of children using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics comprising frequency, percentage, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were adopted in analysing the data.

Results: Less than half (46.9%) of the children completed their CWC schedules. Meanwhile, caregivers' knowledge on CWC was 97.7%. Children aged 37-48 months (AOR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.21-0.86, p=0.017) and 49-59 months (AOR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.10-0.77, p=0.014), respectively, had lower odds of completing CWC. Children with caregivers not having any formal education also had lower odds of completing CWC (AOR = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.21-0.95, p=0.036).

Conclusion: Educational programmes on the importance of CWC completion should focus on caregivers with children aged 37 months and above and those caregivers with low educational level. It is further recommended that studies be conducted to explore the extent of association between caregivers' marital status, occupation, level of knowledge, and child CWC completion in the Garu-Tempane District.