UNIT - I ( INTRODUCTION )

Contents

Introduction of Peadiatrics.

Meaning of peadiatrics.

Definition of peadiatrics.

Importance of paediatrics.

Historical background of peadiatrics.

Modern concepts of child care.

Internationally accepted rights of child care.

National policy and legislation in relation to child health and welfare .

National legislation related to child health,

National programmes related to child health and welfare.
Agencies related to welfare services to the children
 INTRODUCTION

Paediatric nursing is the specialized area

of the nursing practice concerning the care
of children during wellness and illness,
which includes preventive, promotive,
curative and rehabilitative care of children.
 Meaning
The term paediatrics is derived
from the Greek word ‘’Pedia ‘’ (meaning a
child or pertaining to a child ) ‘’iatrike ‘’
( treatment ) and ‘’ics ‘’ (meaning a branch
of science .
 Paediatrics is concerned with
DEFINITION

the health of infants , children,

adolescents and their growth &
development and their attaining
full potential as adult .
 IMPORTANCE OF PAEDIATRICS

 Major consumers of health care.

 35 – 40 of total population are children below the

age of 15.
 More vulnerable to various health problems.

 Majority of Childs morbidity & mortality preventable.

 Needs special care to survive & thrive.

 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
CHILD HEALTH
Abraham Jacob is known as FATHER OF PEDIATRICS
The first citation of quality of breast milk and child hygiene
was 225 BC. in Indian SUSURTA SAMHITA
Hippocrates a Greek philosopher also known as father of
modern medicine has made significant contribution to
diseases found in children.
The first Indian paediatrician were kashyapa and Jevaka
they worked on children diseases and child care.
 Historical background – cont’d
The first manuscript on management of children
diseases was written by kashyapa and Samhita.
• Charaka was the physician of Peshawar. He wrote on
care and management of newborn.
• Arab physician Rhazes wrote the first book on the
diseases of children.
 Historical background – cont’d
• In 1545 Ad.Thomas Phare wrote the first book in English on
children’s disease.
• In 1802 first paediatric hospital was opened in Paris .
• The first paediatric hospital was the Children’s Hospital of
Pennsylvania, founded in 1855.
• In 1920 the first crèche was opened in India to provide day care
to children.
Modern concepts related to child
care through ages
 CONCEPTS OF CHILD CARE
 Health is a complex phenomenon.
 Health is the fundamental right of every human
being.
 ‘‘A healthy child becomes a healthy citizen , and a
healthy citizen makes a healthy nation.’’
 Health is defined by WHO, it is ‘‘a state of complete
physical , mental, social and spiritual well-being and
not merely the absence of disease’’.
 MODERN CONCEPT OF CHILD CARE

 Child health nursing is undergoing tremendous advancement in

paediatric medicine and surgery.

 Child care has a prime importance as the mortality and morbidity rates
are highest in this group and most of the diseases are preventable.

 The goal of Paediatric nursing is to foster the growth and development

of the child and promote an optimum state of health physically,
mentally and socially.

 Holistic view of health Widely accepted term, ”Wholeness”. It is a

philosophy believes in an integration and harmonious balance of body,
mind and spirit to maintain or regain health.
 Modern concept – cont’d
 Areas to be considered: Health promotion, Prevention of illness,
Health maintenance, Health restoration.

 Caring the health care of the child from the day of conception.

 Participate in the prevention of illness and health promotion

activities.

 Comprehensive care of the child in his home through community

health centers.

 Flexibility in hospital setting.

 Health oriented.

 Warmth and love oriented.

 Modern concept – cont’d
 Health promotion activities, services related to fertility, sex
education and counselling.

 Safe guard and protect the children's right by health providing,

cultural practice and laws encouraging.

 The Nurse must observe the state of the child’s health illness state,
his strength and weakness, and the effectiveness of coping
mechanism.

 The nurse must have patience and emotional balance, while

dealing with children and their parents especially in critically ill
cases.
INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED
RIGHTS OF CHILD CARE
 RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

 Human rights, which are essential for total

personal development , belong to everyone –
children and adults, men and women, well and
ill person and individuals of all races.
 Children have rights in the areas specific to
knowledge of their state of health or illness,
decisions regarding treatment modalities and
counselling .
 
 INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED RIGHTS OF
CHILD CARE -cont’d

On 20th Nov, 1959 the 14th general assembly of the

united Nations approved the declaration of the rights of
the child .
 
The right to affection , love and understanding.
The right to adequate nutrition and medical care .
The right to free education .
The right to full opportunity for play and recreation .
The right to a name and nationality.
The right to special care if child is handicapped.
INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED RIGHTS OF
CHILD CARE

The right to be among the 1st to receive relief in times of

disaster
The right to learn to be a useful member of society and to
develop individual abilities.
The right to be brought up in a spirit of peace and
brotherhood .
The right to enjoy these rights, regardless of race, colour,
sex, religion, national or social origin.
All children shall be entitled to these
rights without discrimination .
National policy & Legislation
 NATIONAL POLICY AND LEGISLATION IN RELATION TO
CHILD HEALTH AND WELFARE
 

 In India, several measures have undertaken by the national

government to improve the health of the people.

Now a days , much importance has been given for the care of
children because ‘’Today ’s children are the citizen’s of
tomorrow ’’.

 So to improve the health of the children , the government of

India adopted a ‘’National policy for children in Aug-1974 ‘’.
 National policy & programme
Programmes in National policy for children :-
Government of India has introduced a number
of programmes in national policy for children . They
are as follows :
ICDS Scheme (integrated child development
services).
Child welfare services .
Welfare of the Handicapped children .
CSSM Programme (child survival and safe
motherhood).
National policy & program – cont’d

I) ICDS SCHEME (Integrated child development

services scheme)
i) Supplementary nutrition .
ii) Immunization .
iii) Health check up and health records .
iv) Nutrition and health education .
v) Non-formal pre-school education .
National policy & program – cont’d
II) CHILD WELFARE SERVICES : -
They are child welfare agencies in India. They are as
follows:
i)Indian Council for child welfare (ICCW).
ii)Central social welfare board .
iii)Kasturba Gandhi memorial Trust.
iv)Indian Red cross society .
National policy & program – cont’d

III) WELFARE OF THE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN :

 
Handicap is defined as a disadvantage for a given individual
resulting from an impairment or a disability that limits or
prevents the fulfilment of a role that is normal for that individual.
One of the objective of child health services is the prevention
of handicapping condition. Government has taken initiative for
the prevention of handicaps. They are
--- Primary prevention
--- Secondary prevention.
 
National policy & programme – cont’d

 Primary prevention :-
 a) Genetic counselling
  b) At risk approach
c) Immunization
d) Nutrition
e) Others
 
National policy & programme
2) Secondary prevention :
  The broad objectives for all children whatever their
condition or problem are to bring them as close to normality as
possible, physically, mentally and socially. It includes
a) Early diagnosis of handicap
b) Treatment
C) Training & Education
National policy & programme – cont’d

IV) Child survival & safe motherhood programme (CSSM):

This programme are mainly beneficial for

mother and also children . The package services under
CSSM is available for children’s are :
a) Essential Newborn care
b) Immunization
c) Appropriate management of diarrhoea
National policy & programme –cont’d
d) Appropriate management of ARI
e) Vitamin A prophylaxis
It is estimated that a large number of children
suffer from clinical deficiency of Vit A under the
programme , 5 doses of Vit .A are given to all children
under 3 years of age .
 
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
RELATED TO CHILD
HEALTH
NATIONAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO
CHILD HEALTH
Today children are recognized as complete persons and
they have legal and constitutional rights that are
independent from their parents
 When the children are too young to care for themselves.
 Parents or their substitutes are required to provide food
, clothing , shelter , education and medical care for
them.
 They are also expected to consider love, support and
protection .
 There are many laws formulated by the Government to
protect the rights of children .
 National Legislation – cont’d
i) The child labour act
ii) The children act
iii) Juvenile justice act
iv) Child abuse prevention and treatment act
v ) Health maintenance organization act (1975)
vi) Education for all handicapped children act-
1973:-

 
 National programmes
related to child health and
welfare
 Introduction
National health programme , which have been
launched by the central government for the control /
eradication of communicable disease , improvement of
environmental sanitation , nutrition , control of
population and rural health. Various international
agencies like WHO, UNICEF, WORLD BANK have
been providing technical and material assistance in the
implementation of these programmes.
National programmes – cont’d
National malarial eradication programme
National Goitre control programme
Mid-day meal programme
Vitamin – A prophylaxis programme
Integrated child development services scheme
National Diarrheal disease control programme
National Anemia control programme
National Filaria control programme
Reproductive and child health programme
Agencies related to
welfare services to
the children
 TYPES OF AGENCIES
Voluntary ( National)
Health Agencies.
Involuntary
(International ) Health
Agencies.
Voluntary ( National)
Health Agencies
 Voluntary Health Agencies
1) Indian council for child welfare
(ICCW )
2)Central social welfare board
3)Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust
4) Indian Red Cross Society
5)Tuberculosis Associations of India
6)Bharat sevak samaj
7)All India Blind Relief Society
8)The Hindu Kush Nivaran Sangh
 INVOLUNTARY
AGENCIES
or
INTERNATIONAL
AGENCIES
 INVOLUNTARY AGENCIES
 ( WHO) world health organization
 FAO (food and agricultural organization)
UNICEF ( United Nations International
Children Emergency Fund)
CARE (co-operative for assistance and relief
every where)
 USAID (the united states agency for
international development)
 Conclusion

Paediatrics is concerned with the health of

infants, children and adolescents, their growth and
development, and their opportunity to achieve full
potential as adults. Child health nursing is
undergoing tremendous advancement in paediatric
medicine and surgery. Child care has a prime
importance as the mortality and morbidity rates are
highest in this group and most of the diseases are
preventable.