Evaluation of school age children's growth who were followed in Pediatric Primary Care Clinic of Cukurova University Medical School

Evaluation of School Age Children's Growth Who Were Followed in Pediatric Primary Care Clinic of Cukurova University Medical School Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate growth parameters of children that followed in our Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, when they reached the school age, to determine relationship with duration of breast-feeding, to investigate factors affecting regular follow-up. Materials and Methods: The medical records of children who admitted to Pediatric Primary Care Clinic of Cukurova University Medical School Balcali Hospital between January 2003 and December 2008 and who came to follow-up regularly were analyzed retrospectively. By analyzing nutritional histories, durations of feeding only breastmilk and growth parameters, children that eligible for our study were determined and those of school age were called for examination. They were questioned about their nutritional histories and by examination, their weight and height measurements are recorded. Then, body mass indexes were calculated. Correlation between nutritional histories and durations of breastfeeding and other factors that could affect growth were investigated. Findings: Fifty-nine (% 53,6) of children were female; 51 (% 46,4) were male. The mean age of children included to study was 7,47 ± 1,914. The average breastfeeding duration of children included to study was 14,04 ± 6,94 months; the average time of starting additional nutrients was 4,80 ± 1,77 months. The range of receiving only breastmilk for the first six months was % 65. The count of children who had irregular follow-up was 26 (% 23,6). The count of children whose follow-up was made regularly was 84 (% 76,4). The average count of admission to the primary care clinic in the first year of life was 8,49 ± 2,19 for boys and 9,05 ± 1,88 for girls. In this study which was made to detect mean factors affecting growth and regular follow-up; there was no significant relationship between regular follow-up and birth weight, birth length, mode of delivery, educational level of parents, health insurance, number of siblings or family history of major chronic diseases. Ten (% 10) of children who had given up iron prophylaxis before twenty-fourth month were measured less than five per cent of body mass index table, at their last examination. Twenty-one (% 80,8) of children whose follow-up were irregular, had given up using vitamin D support before twelfth month; 5 of (% 19,2) had given up at twelfth month. Ġn group had regular follow-up, 58 of (% 69) children had given up vitamin D support before twelfth month, 10 of (% 11,9) children had given up at twelfth month and 16 of (% 19) after twelfth month. It has been understood that the range of receiving vitamin D support enough time was high in group had regular follow-up. Conclusion: To protect and develop the child health is possible with effective follow-up of healthy children. The regular following-up and supporting the growth and development of children is provided by evaluating the children with their families as a whole and collaborating with their families. It‟s clear that regular follow-up is important to raise factors affecting and supporting the growth like breastfeeding durations, time of starting additional nutrients, durations of receiving vitamin D and iron support to the recommended durations. Ġn order to raise healthy generations, children, indicators of future of community, should be grown, developed, protected and educated with health. Key Words: Evaluation of growth, breast-feeding, follow-up