ABSTRACT

Objective:

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the birth history, nutrition, growth and development of healthy children around 6 to 24 months of age who admitted to children’s polyclinic.

Materials and Methods:

The 138 healthy children admitted to children polyclinic between 6 and 24 months of age were asked about their age, gender, a history of birth (maternal age, maternal occupation, the order of his/her birth, mode of delivery, birth time and birth weight, etc.), nutritional feature (breastfeeding, time of beginning additional food such as cow’s milk, etc.), growth and development (sitting, walking and first tooth age, height-weight, etc.) and follow-up arrangements (vit 3, iron drops, such as recruitment and vaccination status).

Results:

The mean age of children was 13.7±4.94 months, 68 of them were male (49.3%) and 70 were female (50.7%). The mean age of maternal cases was 27.54±4.49 (18 to 38 years), in 116 cases mothers were housewifes (84.1%), 68 of them were the first child (49.3%). 125 of the babies were term infants (90.6%) and 86 were born with cesarean sections (62.3%) and were born with mean birth weight 3210±514.6 grams. Children were divided into 3 groups according to their ages (Group 1: 6 to 12 months, group 2: 13 to 18 months, group 3: 19 to 24 months). In all groups the average time to start complementary foods was 5 to 6 months. In group 1, 44 (72.1%) were receiving breast milk and 8 (13.1%) were fed with cow’s milk. In the second group, 28 (56%) were receiving breast milk and 25 (50%) were fed with cow’s milk. In group 3, only 9 (33.3%) were fed with breast milk and 20 (74.1% ) were fed with cow’s milk. We have not found any statistical relationship between breast milk and maternal age, occupation and the birth order. D vit 3 drops were used in 129 cases (93.5%), while 115 (83.3%) children regularly used iron drops and 100% were appropriately vaccinated according to the Ministry of Health immunization program. All admitted babies were observed for motor development (sitting, walking and teeth development) and their motor developments were found to be appropriate with their ages. The average weight of babies was 10025.8 ±1924.8 grams and their average height was 77.8±7.0 cm.

Conclusion:

In order to grow healthy individuals, emphasizing and increasing the importance of breastfeeding is necessary. We think that this can be achieved by regular training of families and regular follow up of healthy children.