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Key Points

As a PHC worker you should be familiar with the signs of risks. The sample provided below is a good starting point.

Sample “At Risk” Profile

An “at risk” child is one who:

• Was born with a weight below 2.5 kg

• Is a twin or triplet

• Is not breastfeeding or having difficulty breastfeeding

• Has not been immunized or defaulted on immunisation

• Was born within 2 years of the previous child

• Is failing to thrive or is malnourished

• Does not meet their development milestones

• Is of school age but is not in school

• Has a disability. See Annex 6

• Is the child of an adolescent

• Is exposed to violence, abuse, exploitation or neglect

• Is exposed to secondary smoke

• Has parents who engage in excessive alcohol consumption

• Is being raised by single parents

• Is being raised by grandparents

An ‘at risk’ youth

• Changes in eating habits or unexplained weight loss or weight gain

• Inability to sleep or sleeping too much

• Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes

• Extreme hyperactivity, excessive talkativeness

• Needle marks on lower arm, leg or bottom of feet

• Change in personality, mood or interests

• Change of friends, or new friends that may be known drug users

• Secretive or suspicious behavior

• Change in daily habits, activities or grooming

An ‘at risk’ woman is one:

• Whose pregnancies have been either too young (<18 yrs), too old (>35 yrs), too many (>5 children), or too close together (less than 2 years between children)

• Who has had previously complicated pregnancies or deliveries

• Who had had poor outcomes in previous pregnancies

• Who is currently facing complications during pregnancy

• Who is pregnant and shorter than 150 cm

• Who is pregnant and is an adolescent

• Who is a victim of domestic abuse

• Who is obese

• Who has a disability

• Who has HIV

• Who is having diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and heart disease

An ‘at risk’ man is one:

• Who is obese

• Who has a disability

• Who has HIV

• Who is having diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and heart disease

An ‘at risk’ household is one that:

• Is experiencing poverty

• Practices open defecation

• Has an ill person living in the home requiring care

• Has a child, youth, woman or adult with an at risk profile

• Is situated in an unclean, unhealthy environment especially animal faeces

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