Bringing Child Health Closer to Families: Lessons From a Family MUAC Intervention in Urban and Rural South Africa

Authors: Christiane Horwood, Sphindile Mapumulo, Silondile Luthuli, Zandile Kubeka, Nireshnee Reddy, Gilbert Tshitaudzi, Tshifiwa Mashamba, Nomonde Motshoeneng, Lyn Haskins

This study looked at a program in South Africa where community health workers taught mothers how to check their children for malnutrition using a simple arm measurement (MUAC). The program was more active in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) than in urban Gauteng. Most trained mothers in KZN were able to measure correctly, while fewer did so in Gauteng. Only a small number of mothers regularly tracked their child’s measurements over six months. The study shows that while teaching parents to monitor their children’s health is possible, success depends on adapting to local conditions and challenges.