Abstract

*Dr. Vaishali D. Tendolkar, Dr. Nandkishor Bankar and Dr. Ujwala Gawande

ABSTRACT

Background: Covid pandemic had distorted routines of human life in all dimensions. Many children are born at home with no professional health services available to them for days together. Parents could not take the newborn out of the house. Untoward life events in terms of loss of either or both the parents jeopardized initial basic care to the newborns. This paper studies the impact of COVID pandemic on growth and developmental at 2 years of age. Objectives: a) To assess growth and development of 2 years old children born during COVID pandemic. b) To estimate deviation from normal growth and development of 2 years old children born during COVID pandemic. Study Design: a cross sectional study, Population: Children of 2 years age born during the COVID pandemic in containment zones, Sample Size: 256, Study Setting: Home setting of the children, Material: Investigator developed Developmental Milestones inventory (r=0.78). Results: The mean height of 2 years old boys was 82.41+3.03 cm, and the mean weight was 10.54+1.99 kg. The mean height for girls was 78.33+2.11 and mean weight was 8.79+1.85 which is less than normal as per country standard. Developmental scores in social emotional domain was 44%, Language and communication was 37.62%, Cognitive was 37.64% and Motor/Physical development was 36.03%. Conclusion: Growth parameters and development scores of 2 years children born during the COVID pandemic fall short of required standards. Special attention is required for enhancing growth and development of these children to have a healthy nation in future. (249 words).