“Biological Predictors Of Gross Motor Development In Under-Five Year Children In Rural Belagavi: A Cross Sectional Study”

Abstract

Background: Optimal development of children in their early months and years has a bearing on their achievement levels later in life. Growth is the most important biological process in the first two decades or so of a person's life, including the nine months of prenatal development. Growth is the enlargement of the entire body or of specific body parts. It is a fundamental characteristic of all living organisms. Continual interactions among genes, hormonal changes, nutrients, and other factors are largely responsible for the integrated nature of growth and maturation. Children aged one to five account for 16.5% of the total population, while their mortality rate records 40% of all deaths in the nation. The epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases, or a combination of both, poses a substantial threat to the health of the entire population or large groups.

Objectives: To assess the biological predictors of growth and development among under five children in rural belagavi

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 855 under 5 children’s in rural belagavi by using simple random sampling. Growth and Development was assessed using the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) Development Screening Test.

Results: Looking into Biological factors of mothers in which Pattern of delivery shows that Repeat adult pregnancy contributed about 51.53% where as Adolescent (first) and adult (current) pregnancy contributed about 23.95% response. Consanguinity wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  457 (51.64%) have not have  Consanguinity as compared to  457  (48.36%) have  consanguinity. Mode of delivery wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  599 (67.68%) mother got a children by normal vaginal delivery by  as compared to 286 (32.32%) mother got a children by caesarean delivery. Antenatal Care wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  568 (67.68%) mothers are taken antenatal care as compared to 317 (35.82%) mothers are not taken antenatal care. Gestational at birth wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  511 (57.74%) mothers have pre term as gestational at birth as compared to 374 (42.26%) mothers have term as gestational at birth. Multiple Gestation wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  546 (61.69%) mothers have multiple gestation as compared to 339 (38.31%) mothers have no multiple gestation. History of birth asphyxia wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  514 (58.08%) mothers have no history of birth asphyxia as compared to 371 (41.92%) mothers have history of birth asphyxia. Breastfeeding wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  514 (58.08%) mothers have appropriate breastfeeding practice as compared to 371 (41.92%) mothers have inappropriate breastfeeding practice. family size wise distribution of respondents.  Out of a total of 885, maximum of  473 (53.45%) are living family with 6-9 membersas compared to 194 (21.92%) living family with 2-5 members followed by 218 (24.63%) living family with >=10 members.

Conclusion: Biological predictors of gross motor development have influence among under-five children’s however  normal vaginal delivery and  breastfeeding have big impact for the complete growth and development among under five children. Additional research is required to understand complex interactions among these factors and their long-term effects on children's well-being.