Friday, May 25, 2012

Consequence of Stress on Children's Development


When I was a child growing up in my native country of Panama, I remember there was a night of chaos I would never forget. I was between the age of four or five when there was a fire in the building across from mine. As a child seeing this blazing fire and people hurrying to get there most important items, made me have a feeling of anxiety. Seeing my family pack their things up, afraid that the fire could possibly reach to our building frightened me. I remember standing outside with all our essential belongings watching as people ran for their lives. Fortunately, our building didn’t catch on fire and we were able to go back to our apartment. However, that chaos certainly was the beginning of my fear of fire. I was afraid of fire for many years growing up.  The sight of a match being lit or stove being turned on, terrified me. I strongly believe that things that children experience in early childhood can definitely impact their lives tremendously.



No matter where you are from, chaos exists everywhere and affects the lives of many children. For the children of Sierra Leone, chaos and violence is nothing new for them. For a decade in Sierra Leone, children were force to become murders of innocent people and victims of violence. For many years war rebels kidnapped and force children to do violent acts towards their own people. Although, the war has ended, the consequences of violence remain for many of these children. Violence has not only impacted the children of Sierra Leone mentally but physically as well. Many of these children lost their hearing, limbs, eye sight, and were brutally damage as a result of the war. The children of Sierra Leone still suffer the impact of the war, although the country continues to move forward toward peace.



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Child Development and Public Health

A public health topic that I feel is meaningful to me is children having access to clean healthy water. Ninety percent of our body is made up of water. Water is important for children to grow healthy. It is essential for children to have access to healthy water not only to keep their bodies clean but to nourish it as well. Clean water keeps our children’s teeth healthy, cleanses the liver and kidneys, hydrates our children when their outside in the heat playing, etc. I find that in the United States we may be fortunate to have easy access to water. On the contrary, it is scarce and limited in other parts of the country. 


For instance, in Haiti clean healthy water is difficult to find for many of the poorer areas of the country. Many of the poor communities suffer with contaminated water resulting in cholera which an infection in the small intestine. We may see a simple solution such as boiling the water to remove the toxins but believe it or not, poor communities may not have access to charcoal to boil water, leaving families no choice but to use the contaminated water. The effects of contaminated water consumed by children have large consequences on their health, resulting in hospitalization and even death. Non profit organizations such as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) assist many communities with chlorine tablets which cleans contaminated water. The tablets are provided for the many communities who neither can afford to buy the tablets or have access to them.


This issue has inspired me to want to do more to help those families who don’t have the means to have clean water. As I proceed through my career I always want to look beyond the issues of the United States and look to other countries, as many of our children in the United States migrate from other countries. It is important for me to be aware in what is going on around the world which can help the children I serve and their families.


Saturday, May 5, 2012

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World


When I had my son about 20 years ago I was a young mother who was scared of what child birth would feel like. I remember it was on a Tuesday evening on August 6, 1991 when I felt a gush of water that flooded my feet. I knew something was soon to happen. I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance with my mother by my side to support me. Things happened fast, my son's father didn't have the chance to make it to the delivery room because he was out of town. The baby wanted to come and was not waiting for anyone, not even dad. I was dilated and ready for delivery by the time I got to the hospital. Once the delivery room was prepared and it was time to give birth, I was overwhelmed with pain. I was told to push several times and finally my son was born six pounds fifteen ounces. I was filled with so many emotions I cried and cried my new baby boy was born healthy. He reminded me of a little frog when I held him close. After having my son I went through a period of detachment. After all, motherhood was a new experience for me. I knew I loved my son but I felt some what disconnected. As I gained more experience as a mother and with the support of my family, I can honestly say it was one of the most beautiful experiences I ever had. I have two children and both births are memorable but having my son was the first time giving birth therefore my emotions and experience was not the same as when I gave birth to my daughter. When I gave birth to my daughter it was ten years later, I was an experience mother and new what to expect, and thus it was a different experience. I personally feel that birth is definitely part of child development. My personal opinion is that child development begins from the time there is conception.

I recently read an article named Birth and a Vision: Lamaz Childbirth Education in Kenya, East Africa written by Jennifer I. Carroll. Years ago in Nairobi, Kenya when women gave birth, it was done in the home. A pregnancy in Kenya is view by family and the community as a blessing from God. The women in the family normally took care of pregnant woman with an elder woman, who attended the woman’s needs through birth. Today elder woman who attend pregnant women are called Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA). In recent years child birth in Nairobi, Kenya hospitals now have access to Lamaze class and men are more supportive during the birthing experience. Although stricken with poverty, unemployment, and struggling economy women still use TBA's to give birth in their homes because giving birth's in home is less costly. However, births in the urban areas of Kenya, women are not as prepared or informed about giving birth. The Lamaze program was setup to inform and educate women throughout their pregnancy.

In the United States many women who don't have health insurance have access to free clinics that provide services while their pregnant. Medicaid paid by federal government and states often help pay for hospital costs and medical visits for low income women. The financial difference I believe plays a large role in the development of children. Poverty, uneducated woman, and limited support during pregnancy are a prevalent comparison of the differences with the United States and Nairobi, Kenya.


If you’re interested in the article, you can find here
websitehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595210/pdf/JPE130027.pdf