This study assessed aspects of targeting of the PEM scheme in Gauteng province. This
food supplementation scheme targets beneficiaries including children 0-6 years, using
largely anthropometric criteria. Routine provincial intervention data was analysed and
related to available data cm expenditure, population and indices of socio-economic
need. Only 28% were children in the critical 7-36 month age group; and coverage was
very low, with no correlation between indices of need and programme implementation
by area. An exit interview to a sample of caretakers of 0-6 year old children in four
clinics (two Local Authority, two provincial) examined the process of identification of
beneficiaries. Low attendance by children over 1 year and 40% errors in growth
monitoring, more frequent among sick children, effectively reduced screening
coverage among the most at-risk. Health worker misclassification resulted in an 81%
exclusion error among those meeting entry criteria, while 4% of the total were wrongly
enrolled. Advice and nutrition promotion to caregivers was inadequate.
Recommendations include service re-organisation, community-based initiatives and
better monitoring.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/14695 |
| Date | 21 May 2014 |
| Creators | Marshall, Carol Anne |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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