DAY CARE INSPECTION

Day care centres are institutions for the care of healthy children who cannot be looked after in their
homes. Such institutions include nursery schools, day nurseries, workplace nurseries and the like.

Reasons for Day Care Centres

 More women of child bearing age are finding employment out side home. The principle of
women regarded as housewives is gradually becoming uncommon.
 Increasing economic responsibility of parents is making both parents leave home for work to
augment their income without a caretaker for the child in the home.
 Young girls who were used as home caretakers / home helps are becoming scarce due to
educational policies requiring every child to be in school. These girls also have little knowledge
about childcare.
 Most strong grand parents are pre-occupied with work in the rural homes and may not be
comfortable staying with in-laws in the city to care for their grand-children while the parents are
at work. The weaker grandparents may not be able to look after the child for the whole day.
 In developing countries, day-care centres can sometimes be used directly to help the child where
home conditions are less than desirable for the physical or mental health of the child.
 Where malnutrition or under-nutrition is common, such centres can help in the proper feeding of
the children and the education of mothers on correct infant feeding practices.

The above are some reasons for the need for Day-Care Centres. However they should not be seen only as
a place for mothers to leave their children when they go to work. The early years of life are formative and
without proper stimulation in this period, a child may suffer lasting mental and psychological problems
(Stanhope and Lancaster, 1992). Moreover, the age group of 1 – 5 years is the most vulnerable because of
increased risk of malnutrition and general infection, as well as parasitic infections and infestations. A
Day-Care Centre therefore has a special responsibility for the physical, mental and social health of the
children.

Problems That May Arise From Day-Care Centres

 Complicated toys which the child cannot play with produce frustration and fatigue.
 Overcrowding and inadequate staffing can result in inadequate care of the children.
 The risk of infection in such centres is likely to be very high.
 The use of the same staff for food preparation and handling, as well as for washing and changing
children spreads gastro- intestinal infections.
 Accidents among this age group of children are usually high and this is made worse by a fewer
people taking care of a lot of children in one environment.

The Needs of the Child and the Responsibility of the Community Health Nurse in Day-Care
Centres.
 At the time of admission to the day care centre, she does a thorough physical examination of each
child with the medical officer of health.
 She ensures that a day care is sited away from a busy road, and the compound should be fenced.
 The immunization records of the child are checked and any necessary immunization given with
boosters if required.
 Regular routine monitoring of the children’s growth and development is done.
 Periodic inspection of the children and the environment.
  In order to make sure the children take adequate amount of nutritious diets, the menu should be
planned in consultation with the community health nurse.

She also ensures:

 Early detection, prompt treatment and isolation of children with infectious conditions. The
parents should be persuaded to keep the child at home for a few days.
 Safety measures should be put in place to minimize, if possible, prevent home accidents
among the children.
 The provision of first- aid box for the treatment of minor ailments and accidents.
 Mother’s whose work places are near the centre, visit their children if possible, to breastfeed
them.
 Provision of proper play materials that will help with proper physical and mental
development of the children.
 She prepares a programme of general health counseling to parents and staff of the centre.

Any effective school programme extends backward to an effective pre-school period. Children are the
future of any nation, as such providing a good foundation for health care of children helps ensure the
health of the entire population. Parents are the care providers of children and the community health nurse
can lend support and guidance to parents, guardians and day-care staff in their caring capacity. Periodic
health screening, environmental inspection and administration of immunizations not only promote and
maintain a child’s health but also assist parents.
The community health nurse keeps records of the children on continuous inspection, measurements of the
weight and nutritional status, immunizations and any other health care provided.