The Health Card (KMS) has been used in Indonesia since the 1970s as a tool to monitor children's growth. The age monitored using the KMS is 0-5 years and is usually filled in by a doctor or health worker.

It is also important for parents to understand how to read KMS so they can easily monitor their child's development. Because you as a parent can pay attention to your child's development in detail and neatly every month and year. For those of you who want to know about KMS, the following is a detailed explanation that you can find in this article:

  • What is the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)?
  • Benefits and Functions of the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)
  • How to Check KMS Online
  • How to Read the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)

The following is a detailed explanation of the Towards Healthy Card and its benefits which you can see below.

What is the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)?

The Towards Healthy Card is a graphic record of a child's development as measured by age, weight and gender. Based on an explanation from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), there are three kinds of tools for monitoring child growth, using the KMS, the Maternal and Child Health book (KIA book), and the PrimaKu application issued by IDAI.[1]https://www.idai.or.id/artikel/klinik/pengasuhan-anak/pemantauan-pertumbuhan-anak

All three provide information on the completeness of child immunizations and monitor exclusive breastfeeding in infants aged 0-6 months. Parents are advised to update the data on the card every month by taking their toddler to the posyandu or pediatrician.

Monitoring a child's growth through this card can make a pediatrician determine normal growth according to his age or not for your little one. Not only that, the Towards Healthy Card contains basic tips on child care, such as feeding children and caring for children when they have diarrhea.

You can use the health card to check your baby's development regularly. So, besides having to check the health of your baby, you also have to provide comfortable housing for your family. Check the list of homes for sale in the Cibubur area under IDR 1 billion here!

Benefits and Functions of the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)

In addition to monitoring the growth and development of children from the age of 0-5 years, there are several other benefits of the Towards Healthy Card, including the following:

1. Graph of Determinants of Child Development

KMS is equipped with international standard charts for monitoring child growth in accordance with the provisions of the World Health Organization (WHO). This graph is intended as a determinant of whether a child grows normally or not. If the baby grows healthy and normal, it will follow the chart. If the child's weight is off the mark or doesn't follow the chart, it could be that the child's growth is stunted or there is a disturbance.

2. Child Health Service Registration Tool

To complement the need for recording children's health and growth, the KMS includes a feature to record health services that children will receive, such as immunization schedules or giving vitamins every month.

3. Parent Education Media

The Towards Healthy Card is also useful as a media for educating parents regarding how to care for children so that children stay healthy, grow with balanced nutrition and develop children normally.

4. Important Notes for Pregnant Women

Not only monitoring children's development, the Towards Healthy Card also contains important messages for pregnant women. In it, there are steps in the form of how to maintain health during pregnancy, childbirth until the postpartum period so that mothers and babies are safe and born in a healthy condition.

How to Check KMS Online

Now Kartu Toju Sehat already has an online site and application that can make it easier for you to check it. The method is also easy, you only need to fill in the child's data then a reminder will automatically appear such as an immunization schedule via email or your cell phone.

You will be required to fill in the child's name, gender, date of birth, weight (kg) and height (cm) of the child in the KMS Online form then click View Results. Height measurements for children aged 0-24 months are measured in a supine position, while children aged 24-60 months are measured in a standing position.

After that, be diligent in filling in your little one's development data so that you can enjoy the graphic features of online child growth and development to the fullest. You can directly visit the online KMS site to register yourself and your child.[2]https://www.kms-online.web.id/

How to Read the Towards Healthy Card (KMS)

Before knowing how to read a good and correct KMS, you must first understand the three band colors in the KMS chart and what they mean. The explanation is as follows:

  • Green: Normal
  • Yellow: Too thin or fat and restoration to normal is required (green)
  • Red: Very thin or very fat and need to consult a doctor to return to normal body condition (green)

An explanation of how to read KMS correctly according to the rules of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association is as follows:

1. When the Graph is Below the Red Line

If the child's growth point is below the red line, then there is a possibility that your child is experiencing moderate to severe malnutrition.

If you encounter this condition in your child, then immediately consult this matter with a pediatrician or related medical personnel for further examination.

However, to be more specific and precise, you should consult this with a subspecialty metabolic pediatrician or a pediatrician who focuses on malnutrition, malnutrition, obesity, and metabolic disorders.

2. When the Graph is in the Yellow Color Area and Above the Red Line

If the dot on the graph is located in the yellow area, it is certain that your child has a mild level of malnutrition. So, you don't need to panic too much and it is recommended to evaluate the food consumed by your little one.

3. When the Graph is Green and Above the Yellow Line

If you see the child's growth chart is in green and above the yellow line, then your child has sufficient body weight and is well nourished or is in good health and normal. However, you still have to regularly weigh your child's weight and your child's nutritional needs so that their development remains optimal and runs normally according to their age.

4. When the Graphics are Above the Dark Green Color

If you see your child's graph is above the dark green color, it is estimated that the child is obese or overweight. If a child experiences this, then immediately consult a pediatrician to get proper help. Because, children with obesity if not treated immediately will be susceptible to disease and even a heart attack.

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