Growth and behavior development in rural infants in relation to malnutrition and environment
Upadhyay, S.K.; Saran, A.; Agarwal, D.K.; Singh, M.P.; Agarwal, K.N.
Indian Pediatrics 29(5): 595-606
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 1500108 Document Number: 395043
A group of 224 children from a rural population of 625 children in Varanasi, India, was assessed for morbidity, physical growth and behaviour development. By 1 year old the number of children of normal nutrition was reduced to 25%, whereas those of children with Grades II and III malnutrition were doubled. The worsening of the nutritional state was due, to high morbidity. The head circumference was 43 cm at 1 year old, 3 cm less than the average. Children with Grades II and III malnutrition showed poor development in all aspects of behaviour. Apart from malnutrition, other factors, such as, the mother's involvement in teaching and encouraging the child, parental education, their caste and child's birth order, significantly affected the child's development during infancy.