The card mainly served as a record of immunisations and a growth monitoring chart. Over 40 different design formats were used until 1987 when a RTHC ( Figure 1-A1) 8 with a common design was implemented. Road-to-Health Card/Charts have been used in South Africa since 1973. Healthcare personnel need to be vigilant for risk factors in order to provide comprehensive, relevant child healthcare. 6 Better documentation of health status and risk factors, appropriate interpretation thereof and immediate action could reduce child morbidity and mortality. In South Africa, the leading causes of death amongst children aged less than five years include lower respiratory tract infection, diarrhoeal disease, malnutrition and perinatally acquired HIV. However, its usefulness depends on the knowledge, dedication and co-operation of mothers or caregivers and healthcare personnel. 3 In some circumstances, particularly in populations with fragmented health services or migrating families, the RTHC may be the only reliable source of information. Internationally, the Road-to-Health Card/Chart (RTHC) is a useful patient-held child medical record as it summarises a child’s health in the first five years of life. 2, 3, 4 These records, though designed to track patient health histories and facilitate continuity of care amongst healthcare personnel, also empower patients to track their own health. ![]() 1 Globally, patient-held maternal and/or child health records for literate and illiterate patients and healthcare personnel (including traditional birth attendants) have been used since the 1970s to track health status and document immunisation status. ![]() Accurate record-keeping is important for continuity and quality of care.
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