ABSTRACT Growth and development in children is affected by many factors for examplemalnutrition, disease, gestational age at birth, multiple pregnancy, birth spacing, number of siblings, breastfeeding, exposure to alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, genetic disorders, head injuries and prolonged maternal stress. Many children in Uganda are stunted, wasted and underweight presenting late to health facilities which later affects their growth and development leading to mental retardation and learning disabilities. Growth and developmental problems are still a significant issue in Pediatrics yet actual epidemiological information in our setting is not available. Broad objective: To assess the factors affecting growth and development in children under 5 years in KIUTH. Specificobjectives: To assess the prevalence of stunting. To assess the effect of birth weight, child spacing, number of siblings, breastfeeding, presence of chronic illness and care taker on growth and development of children. Methodology: This is a cross sectional studyin which 60 participants were enrolled bysystematic sampling method (every 2nd child attending outpatient department pediatrics was enrolled in the study). Data was collected by use of a questionnaire, analyzed manually by use of a calculator and presented in tables, and bar graphs. Results: These included the following: 6(10%) of the children were stunted and 16(26.67%) of the children had height below 5th percentile.There were no infants with weight for age less than 80% of the expected from the median. There was no direct relationship between birth spacing 2 and weight for age because affected children had birth space below and above 2 years. The number of siblings did not yield significant findings since KIUTH is a private hospital where mostly the ones who are able to pay come, this could have influenced the results obtained. There were children with less weight and height for age irrespective of the duration of breastfeeding including those who were breastfeeding. 1(1.67%) of the children who had a chronic illness had height for age less than 90% of expected from the median and 2(3.33%) of the children with chronic illness had weight for age less than 80% of expected from the median compared to 6(10%) and 7(11.67%) without a chronic illness had height and weight less than expected for age respectively. More children 5(8.33%) and 8(13.33%) stay with both parents had height and weight less than expected for age respectively.
