Consequences of Stress of Children’s Development

Consequences of Stress of Children’s Development

Poverty is a stressor that is ever increasing in India. The above picture shows a little girl whose growth has been stunted by malnutrition and poverty. Although the countries growth begins to prosper small children are still neglected. According to the article posted by the NY times (2009) In India, by contrast, despite robust growth and good government intentions, the comparable number is 42.5 percent. Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical and intellectual growth for a lifetime.

There are no simple explanations. Economists and public health experts say stubborn malnutrition rates point to a central failing in this democracy of the poor. Amartya Sen, the Nobel prize-winning economist, lamented that hunger was not enough of a political priority here. India’s public expenditure on health remains low, and in some places, financing for child nutrition programs remains unspent. I am shocked that politics takes precedents over the needs of humans. This problem effects these children bio socially, cognitively, and there psychosocial development.         

As a child I had the experience of living in poverty. There were times when I would go to bed hungry or eat uncooked ramen noodles just picking at them throughout the day. I can recall being on the free lunch program and an embarrassing stigma that went with it. I guess this is where the resiliency of a child comes into play because honestly I didn’t know there was anything wrong. As I got older and I began to learn I knew I didn’t want to put my own children through the problems I encountered. During school I was a hoarder I would put the food in my pocket and save it to feed myself and my brother. As a teacher from time to time I have come across a few like myself then. I think I am more aware as a teacher and more sympathetic to the situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html?ref=world

Child Development and Public Health

Child Development and Public Health

Immunizations

As a mom getting ready to send her son off to college, I found myself pulling out his immunization record. Apparently immunizations aren’t just for infants and babies they are for all ages. My son needs a vaccination for Meningitis which is a common illness that happens to freshmen in college which can be deadly.  The most commonly asked question by parents is why immunize? The purpose of immunization is to build the persons immune system against harmful diseases in hopes to eradicate the disease. According to the Center for Disease Control Diseases are becoming rare due to vaccinations. It's true; some diseases (like polio and diphtheria) are becoming very rare in the U.S. Of course, they are becoming rare largely because we have been vaccinating against them. It recommended continuing vaccinating for future generations.

I turned my attentions to Canada and looked at their public health practices and thoughts on vaccinations and I found they share the same views and us Americans. In Canada, vaccines to prevent the following diseases are considered routine, and are given free of charge to children in all provinces and territories:

       diphtheria;

       tetanus (lockjaw);

       pertussis (whooping cough);

       polio;

       rubella (German measles);

       measles (red measles);

       mumps;

       hepatitis B; and

       Haemophilus influenza type b disease.

I was impressed by the fact that they make these free for all children which is an area Americans are still struggling with. I linked the cdc frequently asked questions page in the word Immunizations listed above.

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm

Health Canada- http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/immuniz-eng.php

CHILDBIRTH

My Childbirth Experience:

I am a mother of seven children. I have a blended family where I received two bonus daughters with my marriage. I have had the honor and privilege of experiencing childbirth on five different occasions. I have two sons (19 and 15) and three daughters (16, 14 and 9). I found each pregnancy and delivery to be completely different from each other as their individual personalities to this day. I have a fairly high pain tolerance so all five deliveries were medication free by the time I ask for relief they tell me I am to late. The delivery I will share with you is of my 19 year old son only because I was so young eighteen years old. The pregnancy went well I went from 92 pounds to182 pounds at delivery I really thought I had to eat for two. I went into labor in March and every time I visited the emergency room they would check for dilation and give me a shot to stop the contractions because I was due in April and nobody wanted to be responsible for a preemie based of the ultrasound measurements. April 18^th came around and during a trip to the emergency room while the nurse was checking for dilation and monitoring contractions my son was miss-positioned and grabbed her finger needless to say it scared her and the doctor was in there getting him turned around for a regular delivery. Thirty four hours later we had a healthy baby boy who was 43 weeks gestation. Childbirth is a miraculous experience I will always be grateful I was able to have.

Giving birth in the Netherlands:

The region of the world I chose to look at was the Netherlands. I found that the majority of births are actually done in the home with midwives. If an expectant mother has chosen to deliver in a hospital setting pain relief during childbirth is managed through the use of breathing and relaxation techniques. The use of medication during the delivery process is strongly discouraged in the hospital unlike here in the United States where something to assist in pain relief is suggested.

http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/lets-talk-about-the-cultures-of-childbearing

http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/childbirth-in-holland-38191_9489.html