Growth and development of underfives in Marunda area in North Jakarta

Abstract

A prospective study on 102 underfives in Marunda, North Jakarta was performed in terms of the growth and development and the probable related factors. It was found that the mean age of studied children (31.8 months) was the ideal age for growth & development investigations. The growth, using the weight for age as well as the length or height for age parameters, and also the development were still unsatisfactory since respectively 44.1%, 41.2% and 36.3% of them were found below the normal norms. The order of achievements of the development sectors (from easiest to most difficult) was as follows: gross motor, personal social, language, and last fine motor-adaprive, Factors significantly related to the growth and development were: the feeding pattern, breastfeeding pattern, mother’s reproductive pattern and mother’s schooling. All these factors were also in accordance still unsatisfactory. The growth using the baby weight for age parameter was found more sensitive in terms of its relation to the overall development than the growth using the body length for age parameter.