# Growth and Development Status of Children Post–COVID-19 Infection: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how children under 5 years old are affected in terms of growth and development after recovering from COVID-19.

## Contribution

The study identifies key factors like age, sex, and comorbidities that influence post-COVID-19 child development.

## Key findings

- Male sex and children aged 25-36 months were significantly associated with growth status.
- Comorbidities were the most dominant factor affecting child development post-COVID-19.
- Improved hospital discharge planning and community health services are recommended for better child outcomes.

## Abstract

COVID-19 may impact children’s growth and development, potentially leading to various health issues.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with the growth and development status of children under 5 years of age after COVID-19 infection.

This cross-sectional study included 292 children under five years of age assessed after COVID-19 infection. All participants had negative results via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and were hospitalized at a type A hospital in Jakarta between July 2021 and December 2022. Participants were selected using purposive sampling techniques.

Male sex and the age group of 25‐36 months were significantly associated with growth status. The most dominant factor associated with child development was the presence of comorbidities.

This study recommends improving hospital discharge planning and strengthening community health services to support children’s growth and development after discharge.