This study was aimed at assessing growth and developmental outcomes of children living in orphanages in Odisha, India aged birth to 72 months and to make recommendations for “possible remedial measures” for addressing poor growth and developmental outcomes for children in institutions. The research team conducted a cross-sectional study in two orphanages in Bhubaneswar and one orphanage in Cuttack in 2014. The study found that the children in institutions had lower rates of malnutrition and its effects than the national standard for children of the same age. However, the study did find that children in these institutions exhibited significant developmental delays, including language delays and personal-social delays, which the researchers attribute to lack of family care and maternal deprivation. Developmental delays, in turn say the authors, lead to cognitive delays and lower school achievement. Their recommendations, however, do not include family reintegration or deinstitutionalization efforts.
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences - Volume 14, Issue 4
