FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Growth and development are influenced by the interplay of factors which are dependent on a sequence
and interaction of genetic, hormonal, environmental, and nutritional determinants.

These factors can be subdivided into hereditary and environmental ones (i.e., nature and nurture).

Heredity factors are traits that children are born with and include growth patterns, parental
characteristics, gender, race, and genetic disorders. These are fundamentally influenced by or
entertwined with environmental processes.

Growth Patterns
Normal human growth is characterized by periods of rapid growth (growth spurts) and periods of
seeming quiescence.

Cephalocaudal; Proximo-distal directions; Gross-undifferentiated to precise individual skill

A child is born with an average weight of 3000g (doubles by 5 th months and triples by 1 year)

And average length of 50cm (increases by 25cm by 1 year; 10-15 cm in 2 nd year of life; 7-10 cm in the 3rd
year of life).

This period of rapid growth slows down during the 2 nd and 3rd year of life.

The head circumference is 32-37cm (Grows to two-thirds of adult size head circumference by 2 years
old).

Body shape also changes in relation to skeletal growth.

(This marks the time when the head becomes relatively smaller than the body)
The fat content of body increases rapidly until 9 th months of age.

General growth curve on various organs/ tissues.

Skeletal growth continues until the fusion of epiphysis of long bone has occurred. (14 years old in
Females; 17 years old Male). Growth proceeds slowly (3-5mm) until 30 years of age.

Deciduous teeth begins to calcify at 3months age of gestation. Erupts between 6-24 months old.
Eruption of the first teeth may be 12-13 months, permanent teeth is around 6 years old and completed
at 18 years old.

Lymphatic tissues are small but well-developed at birth. They grow to reach adult dimension until 6
years old. Peak in size around 10-12 years old.

Genital tissues grows slowly before puberty. Double

in size during adolescence.

Brain and neural tissue growth completes

development early.

(the most rapid and critical period of growth and

development in on the 1st 2 years of life)

Brain continues to grow after birth (From 400g at

birth to 1000g at the end of 1 year)

1st myelin cells are seen at posterior frontal and

parietal lobes at 40 weeks.

Myelination of anterior frontal and temporal loves

continue on 1st year of life.

By the end of 2nd year of life, myelination on the

cerebrum is completed.

Genetics
Parental characteristics such as height, head size, and
general Physique may be transmitted from parents to
their offspring. Temperament and intelligence are other traits that are transmitted to succeeding
generations.

Temperament is a persons’ way of approaching or reacting to a situation. It is primarily inborn and is

consistent as the child grows older, although it may be influenced by parental handling
and life experiences.
Certain genetic disorders may adversely affect growth. Chromosomal abnormalities, like Down
syndrome, and metabolic and congenital endocrine disorders may also adversely affect growth
potential.
Temperament
Temperament is the usual reaction pattern of an individual,
or an individual’s characteristic manner of thinking, behaving,
or reacting to stimuli in the environment (Chess & Thomas,
1995). Unlike cognitive or moral development, temperament
is not developed by stages but is an inborn characteristic set at
birth. Understanding that children are not all alike—some
adapt quickly to new situations and others adapt slowly, and
some react intensely and some passively—can help parents
better understand why their children are different from each
other and help them care for each child more constructively

Gender
Boys are usually heavier and taller than girls
during the 1st year of life until the time when
growth
spurts occur in girls. This is because prepubertal
growth spurts occur earlier in girls. Once the boys
experience the prepubertal growth spurt, they
again become heavier and taller than girls

Race/Ethnicity
It is well established that Caucasian children are heavier and taller than their Asian counterparts.

Hormonal Factors
Growth at puberty is dependent on the interaction of the growth and hormone like insulin-like growth
factor 1 and sex steroid. Thyroid hormones affect the growth of the skeleton and other body tissues.

Environment
- are modifiable, and the timing and chronicity of these factors are also important determinants of
growth.

May be categorized into prenatal and postnatal.

Prenatal period is the time when growth rapidly occur. Environmental factors in this period have
a significant role in the growth and brain development. (Ex: Nutrition, infection, and neurotoxins)

Studies have shown that micronutrient (e.g., zinc) supplementation improves linear growth
among children who were initially deficient in these nutrients. While studies on iron do not demonstrate
a significant contribution to linear growth, iron has been implicated in improving mental and motor
development in children.

Intrauterine infections (e.g., TORCH infections) have long been associated with intrauterine growth
retardation. Exposure to developmental neurotoxins such as alcohol during the prenatal period has also
been proven to cause brain dysfunction, physical deformities, and growth retardation

Postnatal, they equally affect growth and development. Children who were previously protein-
energy deficient experience retarded growth. Somatic growth of obese children, on the other hand, is
accelerated· The presence of chronic illnesses or parasitic infestation has also been implicated in a
decrease of linear growth.

What is linear growth?

Socioeconomic factors can also be related with environmental factors in relation to the nutrition.

GROWTH MEASUREMENT