INTRODUCTION HUMAN GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
• Growth and development is a continuous biologic
process that begins at conception and terminates at
death.
• The integrity and the quality of this process are
influenced by genetic, biochemical, physiologic
and socioeconomic factors.
• Throughout the childhood and adolescence, he/she
develops into the physical and mental structure
that characterizes the adults and even then changes
do not cease but continue at slower rate
DEFINITIONS
Growth:
Is a natural increase in physical size of whole body and its various
organs resulting from increase of the number or size of cells of the
body. It is measured in centimeters, inches and pounds or
kilograms. It also involves a quantity changes
Development:
Refers to a progressive increase in skills and
capacity of functions. It involves a qualitative
changes.
Maturation:
Is a biologic process of progressive change of a
function on structure toward its mature state
• Experience:
• Conditions within the environment that may
alter or modify various developmental
characteristics through the learning process.
• Adaptation:
• Interplay between individual and environment
IMPORTANCE OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT FOR NURSES
• Identify what to expect from a particular child at any given
stage.
• Gain a better understanding of the reasons behind illness.
• Help in formulatin a plan of care.
• Help in providing appropriate parents’ education in order to
acheive optimal growth and development rates at each age
stage
TYPES OF GROWTH
Physical growth:
• can be assessed by a
variety of measurements:
• H e a d circumference.
• Thoracic diameter.
• Weight.
• Height.
• S k i n foldthickness.
• Dental development
TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT
• Motor development:
• Intellectual development
• Social development
• Emotional / personality development: needs for trust, love.
STAGES OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
1.Pre-natal (Intrauterine
life) from conception to
birth
2. POSTPARTUM (EXTRAUTERINE LIFE)