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No / Objectives: A review of the literature reveals little description of the advisory role of the health visitor in the child health clinic. This paper describes a study which examined content, clients' recall and value to the client of their discussion with the health visitor. Design: Descriptive study; non-participant observation; semi-structured interviews. Setting: One predominantly urban community Trust involving seven volunteer health visitors from seven different child health clinics. A total of 24 clinics were observed. Participants: One hundred clients attending seven child health clinics. Findings: Most mothers reported that speaking with the health visitor had been fairly or very important. Clients' discussion with the health visitors covered a wide range of child-centred issues and concerns. Mothers recalled 79% of all topics discussed during the clinic visit and initiated nearly 59%. Although weighing was considered an important reason for attending clinic by most mothers it did not preclude wanting to speak with the health visitor. However, some mothers did not wish to speak to the health visitor. Conclusion: The health visitor provided an advisory and support service for many of the attending mothers. Most clients reported valuing this intervention. This study support the notion that mothers do not attend the clinic simply for medical services or screening. Attention should be focused on research and development of services which reflect this consumer agenda. Consideration should be given to the appropriateness of health visitors weighing children.

The prevalence of Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in South Africa has been welldescribed in previous research studies and yet little is known about the nutritional status of toddlers in the Vosloorus Township. Using the research questions as the conceptual framework for the study, an exploratory descriptive survey was conducted to determine. • What factors give rise to malnutrition in the Vosloorus Township? • Why do toddlers on the PEM Programme fail to achieve their expected target weight? Data was collected by means of structured interviews from a sample of 50 mothers in the Vosloorus Township whose toddlers were on the PEM Programme. The fmdings indicated that the poor socio-economic conditions of the majority of households, especially unemployment, low levels of education and ignorance, contributed towards the development of malnutrition amongst toddlers and their failure to thrive on the PEM Programme. Recommendations to reduce levels of malnutrition and transform existing nutrition programmes were made. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The prevalence of Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in South Africa has been welldescribed in previous research studies and yet little is known about the nutritional status of toddlers in the Vosloorus Township. Using the research questions as the conceptual framework for the study, an exploratory descriptive survey was conducted to determine. • What factors give rise to malnutrition in the Vosloorus Township? • Why do toddlers on the PEM Programme fail to achieve their expected target weight? Data was collected by means of structured interviews from a sample of 50 mothers in the Vosloorus Township whose toddlers were on the PEM Programme. The fmdings indicated that the poor socio-economic conditions of the majority of households, especially unemployment, low levels of education and ignorance, contributed towards the development of malnutrition amongst toddlers and their failure to thrive on the PEM Programme. Recommendations to reduce levels of malnutrition and transform existing nutrition programmes were made. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)