How can growth monitoring and special care of underweight children be improved in Zambia?

Despite widespread promotion and implementation, very few growth monitoring programmes have been evaluated. Where they have, the findings have often been disappointing and the value of routine growth monitoring has been questioned. There is a concern that the process has become more of a weighing ritual rather than growth promotion. This paper highlights the findings of the evaluation study carried out to assess the performance of the Lusaka urban growth monitoring programme in Zambia. The problems faced and reasons are identified and alternate ways of offering the service are presented. Since the shortfalls are not unique to the Lusaka programme, it is hoped that this paper will stimulate a re-think in the way growth monitoring would be best implemented.