Question

What are the significant environmental factors in your community that pose a risk to normal fetal and childhood development?

Answer 1

Environmental factors which influence normal fetal growth child development.

           * Maternal age

                       Mothers older than 35 years or less than 20 years are at high risk of delivering baby

                       with low birth weight.

          * Heath problems of mother

                        If the mother has diabetic melitus,hypertension other communicable diseases which

                        make the foetus at high risk of developing congenital malformations.

         * Malnutrition

              Nutritional problems of pregnant women directly affect the normal growth and development

                  of children and result in low birth weight,nutritional deficiencies etc.

         * Smoking

                   Smoking habits of mother adversely affect the normal development of foetus.

        * Use of alcohol and drug addiction

                   Childrens of addictive mothers are born with physical and psychological problems.

         * Socioeconomic status

                    Childrens who born in families with poor income,low education,unemployment get less

                     attention and care which alter the normal development of children.

          * Teratogens

                      Terotogens are agents which cause abnormalities in fetus when administered to the

                       pregnant women.

                      ( Eg; Sodium valporate causes spina bifida,Tetracyclines cause deformed teeth etc.)