The document discusses factors affecting growth and development from conception through adolescence. It defines growth as a quantitative increase in physical size due to cell multiplication, while development is the qualitative functional and physiological maturation of skills and abilities. Key factors discussed include heredity, sex, race, environment, nutrition, exercise, family position, intelligence, and hormones. The principles of cephalocaudal and proximodistal development are also summarized.

2. FACTORS AFFECTING
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
SUBMITTED TO ;
MRS . NISHA MANE
ASSOC. PROFESSOR
D.Y.P.S.O.N
SUBMITTED TO ,
MISS . JAYS GEORGE
1ST YEAR MSC(N)
D.Y.P.S.O.N

3. INTRODUCTION
➢ The Process Of Growth And Development Starts Before The
Baby Born I.E. From The Conception In The Mothers Womb.
➢ The Period Extends Through Out The Life Cycle , But The
Principle Changes From The Conception To The End Of
Adolescence.
➢ Growth And Development Are Closely Interrelated.
➢ Each Child Has Individualised Pattern Of Growth And
Development.

4. DEFINITION
S

5. GROWTH
▶ This is the process of physical maturation.
▶ refers to an increase in physical size of the whole body
and various organs .
▶ It occurs by multiplication of cells and an increase in
intracellular substance.
▶ It is a quantitative changes of the body.
▶ It can be measured in Kg, pounds, meters, inches, etc.
▶ It is progressive and measurable phenomenon.

6. CHILD GROWTH (IMAGE: WHO)

7. CHANGES IN BODILY
PROPORTIONS WITH AGE

8. DEVELOPMENT
▶ It Is The Process Of Functional And Physiological Maturation Of
The Individual.
▶ It Is Progressive Increase In Skill And Capacity To Function .
▶ It Is Related To Maturation And Myelination Of The Nervous
System, It Includes Psychological , Emotional And Social
Changes.
▶ It Is Qualitative Aspect Of Maturation And Difficult To Measure.
▶ It Is Orderly.

9. MATURATION
▶ It Is An Increase In Competence And Changes In
Behaviour And Ability To Function At A Higher
Level Depending Upon The Genetic Inheritance

10. IMPORTANCE OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT FOR NURSES :
▶ To Learn What To Expect From A Particular Child At
Particular Age.
▶ To Assess The Normal Growth And Development Of
Children.
▶ Gaining Better Understanding Of The Reasons Behind
Illnesses.
▶ Helping In Formulating The Plan Of Care.
▶ Helping In Parents’ Education In Order To Achieve Optimal
Growth & Development At Each Stage

11. STAGES OF GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT
PRENATAL
Embryonic (Conception- 8 W)
Foetal Stage (8-40 Or 42 W)
INFANCY
▶ Neonate
Birth To End Of 1 Month
▶ Infancy
1 Month To End Of 1 Year

12. EARLY CHILDHOOD
▶ Toddler
1-3 Years
▶ Preschool
3-6 Years
MIDDLE CHILDHOOD
▶ School age
6 to 12 years

13. LATE CHILDHOOD
▶ Adolescent
13 Years To Approximately 18
Years

14. FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
HEREDITY OR GENETIC FACTORS :
▶ The heredity of a man and women determined that of a
children.
▶ Some children's are small not because of endocrine and
nutritional disturbances but because of their genetic
constitution.
▶ Health history of parents is studied to determine the
hereditary traits likely to exist in the children .

15. Sex :
▶ After Birth The Male Infant Is Both Longer And Heavier Than The
Female Infant.
▶ Boys Maintain These Superiority Until About 11 Years Of Age.
▶ Girls Mature Earlier , Reach The Period Of Accelerated Growth
Earlier Than Boys And Are Taller On The Average , Bone
Development Is More Advanced In Girls During Prepubertal Spurt
Of Growth And Development.
▶ Earlier Eruption Of The Permanent Teeth In Girls.

16. RACE AND NATIONALITY :
▶ Race : Distinguishing Characteristics Called Racial Or
Subracial Development In Prehistoric Humans As Too
Height , Tall And Short.
▶ Nationality : We Think Of Physical Characteristics Of
National Groups Because The Inhabitants Of Various
Nations

17. ENVIRONMENT
▶ PRENATAL ENVIRONMENT :
Prenatal Environment Is Very Important For Intra Uterine
Development Of The Foetus ,Particularly Since The Uterus Shields
The Foetus From The Full Impact Of External Adverse Condition .
▶ HARMFUL PRENATAL FACTORS : The Foetus May
Suffer From Nutritional Deficiencies When The Mothers Diet Is
Insufficient In Quantity Or Quality.
▶ Mechanical Problems May Be Present Owing To Malposition In
Utero.

18. ❖ Endocrine Disturbances In Mother Affect The Foetus.
❖ Erythroblastosis Foetalis Due To Rh- Incompatibility Of
Blood Types Of Mother And Foetus.
❖ Smoking Or The Use Of Certain Drugs Such As
Alcohol And Phenytoin May Result In Prematurity Or
Deformity Of The Child.

19. ▶ POSTNATAL ENVIRONMENT :
1. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT :
CULTURAL INFLUENCES – Cultural Influences Has A Major Role
In The Pattern Of Growth And Development.
1. The Effect Of A Particular Culture On A Child Begins Birth Because
Of The Manner In Which Culture View And Treats The Members Of
The Pregnant Women's Family.
2. The place to which mother deliver the baby also determined by the
culture .

20. ▪ After The Birth ,The Child Is Cared For According To The Culturally
Sanctioned Pattern Of Child Rearing .
▪ The Child Is Fed The Diet That Is Dictated , Dressed In Appropriate
Clothing And Given Health Care As Defined By The Culture.
▪ The Child Learns The Language Of The Family And Begins To
Internalize The Tracts And Observations Of Cultural Group.
▪ Ideals Human Values And Disciplinary Practices Are Learned By
Children Determined By There Particular Culture.

21. SOCIOECNOMIC STATUS OF THE FAMILY -The
Environment Of The Lower Socioeconomic Group May Be Less
Favourable Than That Of The Middle And Upper Groups.
▪ Parents In Financial Circumstances Are Less Likely To Understand
The Principles Of Modern Scientific Child Care ,The Principles Of
Modern Scientific Child Care ,They Lack Money To Buy The
Essential Of Health And Diet And Often They Are Unable
,Unwilling Or Unsure Of How To Obtain Medical Care And Hospital.

22. NUTRITION - Nutrition Is Related To Both The Quantitative And
Qualitative Supply Of Food Elements, Proteins ,Fats , Carbohydrates,
Minerals And Vitamins .
If These Essential Nutrients Are Received In The Balanced Amounts
Necessary To Sustain Life ,To Promote Growth And Development , A
Child Is Well Nourished. The Nutritional Needs Of The Children's Depends
On The Age, Sex, Rate Of Growth And Level Of Activity.
▪ During Periods Of Rapid Growth Such As The Prenatal Period, Infancy,
Puberty And Adolescent The Need For Protein And Calorie Is Increased.

23. CLIMATE AND SEASONS – Climate Variations Influences
The Infants Health .During The Summer Seasons ,Children Are More
Prone To Suffer From Diarrhoeal Diseases And Cholera. The Seasons
Of The Year Influences Growth Rates In Height And Weight, Especially
In Older Children(weight Gain Are Lowest In Spring And Early
Summers) And Greatest In Late Summer And Autumn.

24. DEVIATIONS FROM POSITIVE HEALTH-
These May Be Caused By Hereditary Or Congenital Conditions Such
As Illness Or Injury And May Result In Altered Levels Of Growths And
Development.
▪ Hereditary Or Congenital Conditions May Contribute To Growth
Impairment Or To An Increase Height .Conditions Causing
Shortened Stature Include Various Type Of Dwarfism Turners
Syndrome And X Y Turner Phenotype Among Others.
▪ Long Term Are Chronic Illness Of Any Type May Have An Adverse
Effect On Growth And Development

25. ▪ Certainly Illness Like Cystic Fibrosis Or Malabsorption
Syndrome May Lead To Growth Retardation .
▪ Long Term Illness Such As Congenital Cardiac Anomalies
Or Chronic Infections That Are Present During Rapid Growth
Period Have A Temporary Or Permanent Delaying Effect On
The Achievement Of Normal Growth And Development.

26. EXERCISE – Exercise , There By Increasing The Circulation Promotes
Physiological Activity And Stimulates Muscular Development Favour
Growth And Development.
ORDINAL POSITION IN THE FAMILY – The Behaviour Of Parent
Towards And Their Expectations Of Each Child Are Different , Yet
Predictable , According To The Child Position In The Family .
▪ The Ordinal Position Of The Child Has A Bearing On The Parent- Child
Relationship And The Child Rearing Practices That Are Following.

27. ▪ The First Born Child May Be Raised Rigidly And With Anxiety
Because Less Experience Of The Parents About Child Care ,
Child Develops Perfectionistic Personality That Do The Later
Sibling And Is More Conforming ,Intelligent And Achievement
Oriented .The First Born May Learn At An Early Age To Control
And Organize The Behaviour Of Others.
▪ An Only Child Is Likely To Develop More Rapidly Intellectually
Than Are Children With Siblings Because Constant
Companionship With Adult Is Mentally Stimulating .An Only Child
May Be Dependent To Others.

28. ▪ Motor Development May Be How Because Single Children
Do Not Have Other Siblings To Lead Them To Various
Activities.
▪ The Middle Child Many Times Get Him Attention From The
Parents Than Does The First Born ,Especially .If Their Both
Dates Are Close Together. The Child Between The First
Born And The Youngest Learn How To Be Adaptable And
How To Compromise Traits That Will Be Valuable In Adult
Life.

29. ▪ The Youngest Child May Be Relatively Slow In Certain
Areas Of Development Because Of Finding Little Need For
Exploring The Unknown .They Receives Great Deal Of Love
And Affection And Tends To Develop A Good Natured
,Friendly, Warm Personality And High Self Esteem .
▪ The Youngest Child In A Family Tends To Be More Oriented
,Less Intellectually Inclined And Less Achievement Oriented
Than The Older Siblings.

30. ▪ INTERNAL ENVIROMENT :
INTELLIGENCE – It Is Correlated To Some Degree Of
Physical Development ,That Is The Child Of High Intelligence Is Likely
To Be Taller And Better Developed Than In The Less Gifted Child
Intelligence Influence Mental And Social Development.
HORMONAL INFLUENCES- All The Hormones In The Body
Affect Growth In Some Manner .Although Three Hormones Such As
Somatotropin ,Thyroid Hormones And

31. PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT
▶ GROWTH PROCEEDS FROM THE HEAD DOWN
TO THE TAIL OR IN CEPHALOCAUDAL
DIRECTION.
This Is Evident During The Period Of Gestation And The First
Year Of Gestation And The First Year Of Life. Before Birth , The
Head end Of The Embryo And Foetus Enlarges And Develops Before
The Tail End Does .Postnatally The Infant Can Control The
Movement Of The Head Before Being Able To Stand Or Control The
Feet .

34. ▶ GROWTH PROCEEDS FROM THE CENTRE OR MIDLINE OF
THE BODY TO THE PERIPHERY , OR IN A PROXIMO-DISTAL
During The Prenatal Period, The Limb Buds Develop
Before The Rudimentary Fingers And Toes. During Infancy ,
The Large Muscles Of The Arms And Legs Are Subject To
Voluntary Control Earlier Than Are Fine Muscles Of The
Hands And Feet .

36. ▶ DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON MATURATION AND
LEARNING
Maturation Refers To The Sequential Characteristics
Of Biological Growth And Development . The Biological
Changes Occur In Sequential Orders And Changes In The
Brain And Nervous System Account Largely For
Maturation.
These Changes In The Brain And Nervous System Help
Children To Improve Cognitive Abilities And Motor Skills.

37. ▶ DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS FROM SIMPLE TO COMPLEX.
Children's Development Is From Very Broad , Global
Pattern Of Behaviour ,More Specific , Defined Patterns
Emerge. All Areas Of Development Physical , Mental ,
Social And Emotional Proceed In This Direction

39. ▶ GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS CONTINUOUS
PROCESS.
As A Child Develops , He/she Adds To The Skill Already
Acquired And New Skills Become The Basis For The Further
Achievements And Mastery Of Skills.
E.g.; In Motor Development , There Is A Predictable Sequence Of
Development That Occur Before Walking. The Infant Lifts And Turn
The Head Before He/she Can Turn Over. Infant Can Move There
Limbs Before Grasping An Object.

41. ▶ GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS FROM
THE GENERAL TO SPECIFIC
As Growth Proceeds , Child Learn Specific Activities
.In Motor Development , The Infant Will Be Able To
Grasp An Object With The Whole Hand Before Using
Only The Thumb Or Forefinger.

43. ▶ PRINCIPLES OF LACK OF UNIFORMITY ON THE
DEVELOPMENT RATE
Development Though Continuous Does Not Exhibit
Steadiness And Uniformity In Teens Of The Rate Of
Development On Various Dimensions Of Personality Or In The
Developmental Period And Stages Of Life ,Thus Instead Of
Steadiness Development Usually Takes Place In First And
Starts Showing Almost No Changes As One Time And A
Sudden Spirit At Another .

44. ▶ PRINCIPLE OF PREDICTABILITY
Development In Predictable ,Which Means That With The
Help Of The Uniformity Of The Pattern And Sequence Of
Development To A Great Extent, The General Nature And
Behavioural Of A Child In One Or More Aspects.
Eg :-1) With The Knowledge Of The Development Of The Bones
Of A Child It In One Or More Aspects.
2) With In The Knowledge Of The Bones Of A Child It Is Possible
To Predict His Adult Structure And Size.

45. ▶ PRINCIPLE OF INTERACTION
The Process Of Development Involves Active
Interaction Between The Forces The Individual And
The Forces Belonging To His Environment .

46. ▶ PRINCIPLES OF INTERRILATION
The Various Aspects Or Dimensions Of Ones Growth And
Development Are Interrelated . A Healthy Body Tends To
Develop A Healthy Mind And An Emotionally Stables And
Socially Consciousness Personality. Inadequate Physical Or
Mental Development May On The Other Hand Result In A
Socially Or Emotionally Maladjusted Personality .

47. THERE IS INDIVIDUALISED RATES OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
▶ Each child is different and the rates at which the individual
children growth is different from other child.
▶ Although the patterns and sequences for the growth and
development usually same for all, children reach developmental
stages will be different .
▶ There is a range of ages for any development task to take place
,This dismisses the Notion of the “average child ” .

48. ▶ Some children will walk at 10 months ,While others
will walk at 18 months of age .
▶ Some children are more active while others are
more passive. Rates of growth and development
are not uniform with in an individual child.

49. CONCLUSION
The process of growth and development starts
before the baby born i.e. from the conception in the mothers
womb the period extends through out the lifestyle .The
study of growth and development is essential to the nurses
to provide appropriate care to the children.