Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of various factors influencing physical growth of Indian infants from birth to six months a longitudinal study

  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Observations regarding the influence of birth-weight, height of parents, socio-economic conditions, education of mother, feeding and morbidity, on the physical growth from birth to six months were made during a longitudinal study.

Birth-weight did not seem to have much effect on quarterly weight increments.

Height of the parents also did not have significant effect on the height of the off-spring at birth, three months, and six months.

In the upper socioeconomic group, weight and crown to rump length increments were greater during both quarters, but no consistent difference was observed in the lower and middle groups. Socioeconomic conditions did not seem to effect quarterly increments in crown to heel length and in head circumference. During the first quarter, increments in the circumference of the chest in different socioeconomic groups were almost equal, but the greatest increment during the second quarter was observed in the upper socioeconomic group.

Education of mothers seemed to have a beneficial effect on quarterly weight increments during the second quarter.

No difference in weight increments in relation to type of feeding was observed.

The minor or moderate illnesses recorded do not seem to have had any demonstrable adverse effect on quarterly weight increments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achar, S.T. and Yan Kauer (1962). Studies on the birth-weight of South Indian babies.Indian J. Chld. Hlth. 11, 157.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basavarajappa, K.G., Deshpande, V.A. and Ramachandran, K.V. (1962). Effect of sex, maternal age, birth order, and socioeconomic status on the birth weight of live born infants.Indian J. Publ. Hlth. 6, 18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Currimbhoy, Z. (1963). Growth and development of Bombay children.Indian J. Chld. Hlth. 19, 63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drillien, C.M. (1958). A longitudinal study of the growth and development of prematurely and maturely born children.Arch. Dis. Chldh. 33, 417, 423.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falkner, F. (1958). Some physical measurements in the first three years of life.Arch. Dis. Chldh. 33, 1.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garn, S.M., Clark, A., Landkof, L., Newell, L. (1960). Parental body build and developmental progress in the off-spring.Science, 132, 1555.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jha, S.S. (1969). A longitudinal study in infants belonging to a sweeper community in Bombay city.Pediat. Clin. India. 4, 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasius, R.V.et al. (1957). As cited by Scott, R.B.et al. 1962..

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesinski, J. (1962). Relationship between length of gestation, birth weight and certain other factors.Bull WHO. 26, 183.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Love, E.J.et al. (1965). Factors influencing the birth weight in normal pregnancy.Amer. J. Obstet. Gynec. 91, 342.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, S.S. and Ahluwalia, D. (1957). Report of anthropometric measurements of healthy newborns in Delhi.Indian J. Chld. Hlth. 6, 361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.B., Hiatt, H.H., Clark, B.G., Kessler, A.D., Ferguson, A.D. (1962). Growth and development of Negro infants. Studies on weight, height, pelvic breadth, head and chest circumferences during the first year of life.Pediatrics,29, 65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.B., Kessler, A.D., Clark, B.G., Hiatt, H.H., Ferguson, A.D. (1959). Growth and development of Negro infants.Amer. J. Dis. Child. 98, 526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaminathan, M.C., Jyothi, K.K., Raghbir Singh, Madhavan, S., Gopalan, J. (1964). A Semilongitudinal study of growth of Indian children and the related factors.Indian Pediat. 1, 255.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, F.A. (1962). The birth weight of babies in the Federation of Malaya. Effect of race and of economic change.J. Trop. Pediat. 8, 3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Udani, P.M. (1963). Physical growth of children in different socioeconomic groups in Bombay.Indian J. Chld. Hlth. 12, 593.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uklonskaya, R., Puri, B., Choudhari, N., Luthra, Dang, Rajkumari (1961). Physical development of infants in New Delhi in the first year of life.Indian J. Chld. Hlth. 10, 211.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jaipur

    Mira Purohit, N. N. Purohit, S. Saxena & J. B. Mehta

Authors
  1. Mira Purohit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. N. Purohit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Saxena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. B. Mehta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

From the Department of Paediatrics, Medical College, Jaipur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Purohit, M., Purohit, N.N., Saxena, S. et al. Effect of various factors influencing physical growth of Indian infants from birth to six months a longitudinal study. Indian J Pediatr 44, 327–340 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892334

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892334

Keywords

Search

Navigation