Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Chaos

My sister is a great example of someone growing up in a chaotic environment and achieving success despite the unstable living conditions. Being the oldest of six kids came with a lot of responsibility. She was responsible for caring my twin brother and I while still trying to achieve her personal goals. Along with my five siblings my grandparents also took in my aunt and her two kids. These living arrangements made it hard to live a structured life. My Sister Anita Alston-Ellis fought against all the statistics and became an academic success. She has received her Ph.D. in Public Health and is now a published author of the book “Abandonment to Abundance,” where she explains how she overcame her chaotic lifestyle.

Hunger in Africa

 Hunger in America is one of the greatest problems that the continent faces in the 21st-century over 6 million children die each year from malnutrition according to Cozay organization. Poverty is the principal cause of hunger in Africa. The Population is going up 3.5% a year, food is going down 2.5% a year. (Scribid 2014)The people in Africa just do not have enough income to purchase the food that they need. Only 8% of children who are hungry are victims of emergency situation or famine the remaining 92% suffer from long time now nutrition as well as general deficiency of nutrients (Ehow 2014). There are several reason Africa is suffering from hunger as a whole for example, much of Africa is covered by desert and there is not enough rainfall to keep crops healthy. Also, there little understanding of modern technology and much of Africa’s farming is still done by hand on small plots.

Here is an example of a child in Africa suffering from Hunger and malnutrition.

References

 Ehow 2014 http://www.ehow.com/facts_5134722_hunger-africa.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/533023/Hunger-in-Africa

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I chose was breast-feeding this topic is meaningful to me because I as a woman hope to bear children one day and found it interesting to review and research the importance of breast-feeding as it relates to early childhood development. Researching breast-feeding as it relates to early childhood development will impact my future because not until I explored the importance of breast-feeding did I come to realize how important breast-feeding was for the development of newborns to six months

Globally, less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed WHO(2004).. One study of 120 cultures showed that 50 withheld the infant from the breast for 48 hours or more due to the belief that colostrum was “dirty”, “old”, or “not real milk”. In central Karnataka in India, 35% of infants were still not breastfeeding at 48 hours, yet at 1 month 94% were. A mother who may be reluctant to give colostrum feeds in a western hospital may be passionately committed to exclusive breastfeeding later on.

Traditional groups in Papua New Guinea and the Gogo tribe of Tanzania among them – emphasize the need for the woman to be celibate during breastfeeding. A mother may be torn between her desire to breastfeed – in an environment when food after weaning may not be plentiful – and her desire to satisfy her husband. A husband who is often not expected to also remain celibate Emma Pickett (October 30, 2012).

With the information I have learned in the future, I most certainly will breast-feed my children and advices every child bearing mother to do so. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.

References

WHO (2004) http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/

Emma Pickett, (October 30, 2012) lactationmatters http://lactationmatters.org/2012/10/30/a-closer-look-at-cultural-issues-surrounding-breastfeeding/

Childbirth in My Life and Around the World

On August 4, 2010, I received a phone call from my best friend Zia Mose she told me she was going into labor and to get to the hospital as soon as I could. I remember wishing to the hospital a little nervous that for the first time I was going to be a godmother. Upon my arrival Zia was in so much pain it almost brought me to tears. The doctors then examined her and told us the baby would be here shortly. As I nervously waiting, at 8:00 am was ready to push On August 5, 2010  at 8:23 a.m weighting  6 lbs. 8 oz. Alayna Sani Mose was born.

I chose this example because this was the first childbirth I had the privilege to witness. I personally believe that childbirth is the world's greatest gift. It is my personal opinion that how the childbearing mother cares for her body will have a long time affect on her child whether positive or negative as far as how the child develops.

I chose south Africa as the country to focus on the procedures of the women bearing children. The San Bushmen tribe believe that childbearing brings status and social recognition after she has navigated the journey of pregnancy and birth. The women are actively taught that she must face the pain of natural childbirth alone in a squatting position, the women then bites the court with their teeth and bury it.

I found many similarities in America's childbirth procedures and South Africa's. In both countries children and consider precious and a gift. Both countries enjoy women who are bearing children to stay active and eat right. However there are many differences the women in the San Bushman tribe are encouraged to withstand the pain and do so alone. On the other hand women in America are encouraged to use several instruments to reduce their pain and make their childbirth somewhat of a pleasant one.