Child development is a
gradual unfolding of biologically determined characteristics and traits that
arises as the child learns from experiences. In developing countries, more than 200 million children under five years fail to reach
their potential in cognitive and social development due to poverty, poor health, nutrition, and deficit care. Most
of these children live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and many of them
are exposed to multiple risks including poverty, malnutrition, poor health and
un-stimulating home environment, which detrimentally affecting their
development . Health associated to poverty, nutrition and social factors hinders from attaining to their
full developmental potential.
Other factors that compromise overall development during pregnancy and after
birth are parent’s behavioral,
dietary deficiencies, chronic infections, exclusive breastfeeding, inadequate
feeding practices and lack of stimulation.
Therefore, this paper
examines factors affecting early childhood growth and development and categorizing them in five main contributing
factors in Bhutan with placing more focus on first 1000 days. In addition, it
identifies the possible interventions to enhance child growth and development.
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