Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Natural Disaster

My daughter was a social worker working with troubled teens in New Orleans during the time before Katrina. She managed to get out but a lot of her friends were not so lucky. Some lost their mother, father and other family members. This was a devastating time for her and our family. Natural disasters can be especially upsetting for children. Experiencing a dangerous or violent flood, storm, or other natural disaster is frightening enough for adults, and the devastation to the home and community environment can be long lasting and distressing. Often the entire community is impacted, further interfering with a child’s sense of security and routine. The need to relocate when home and community have been destroyed causes emotional reactions and the need for coping techniques (Katrina, 2005). Also, this situation can cause great stress to family relationships. Children look to significant adults in their lives, parents, teachers, and other caregiver for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over. Remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be alright can help children cope after the disaster. The immediate response efforts should include teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships and helping children understand their emotions (Katrina, 2005). Children who have lost or are separated from their primary caregivers and children who were experiencing emotional or physical difficulties prior to Hurricane Katrina are particularly at risk for symptoms of traumatic stress, depression and anxiety (Katrina, 2005).

The Children in Haiti

“In the last year, the people of Haiti have faced overwhelming challenges, from the devastating earthquake that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, to a cholera outbreak, to floods and other disasters.  Having seen the everyday heroism of Haitian citizens and their supporters that are helping to rebuild Haiti. Today, despite difficulties, evermore children are being immunized, more children are being reunited with their families, and more children are attending school again. This is proof that progress is possible even in the worst of circumstances when we all work together. In 2011, we must reaffirm our commitment to build a better future

for all of Haiti’s children.”Anthony Lake, (UNICEF Executive Director)

In Haiti, children are the most vulnerable - USATODAY.com Retrieved from

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-01-24-haiti-children_N.htm

Children as Victims of Hurricane Katrina Retrieved from
           

            http://www.ces.purdue.edu/cfs/topics/HD/ChildrenVictimsHurrKatrina.pdf

The Psychological Effects of Hurricane Katrina for Child and ...Retrieved from

           

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/psychological_effects_hurricane_katrina

Child Development and Public Health

Nutrition/Malnutrition

Issues of poor health and hygiene, poverty, and malnutrition represent critical global challenges to young children’s healthy development and well-being. Poor health represents critical global challenges to young children’s healthy development and well-being, and my understanding of these topics has expanded and deepened because hunger is a daily reality for many. Tragically, more than 13,000 children under five die from causes related to malnutrition every day. Pregnant women, new mothers who breast-feed, and children are among those most at risk of undernourishment (Brain, 2010). Insufficient nutrition during critical growth phases is known to result in poor physical and cognitive development. Malnourishment can cause physical and mental stunting for life, further deepening the cycle of poverty. Moderately underweight children are more than four times more likely to die from infectious disease than are well-nourished children (Poverty, 2008).

           

Poverty contributes to malnutrition, which contributes to death in over half of children under five years old. The best start in life is essential not only to a child’s survival but to his/her physical, intellectual, and emotional development. At the moment it’s hard to imagine anything comparable happening in this country. (Brain, 2010) “To their credit and to the credit of John Edwards, who goaded them into it both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are proposing new initiatives against poverty. But their proposals are modest in scope and far from central to their campaigns. I’m not blaming them for that; if a progressive wins this election, it will be by promising to ease the anxiety of the middle class rather than aiding the poor, and for a variety of reasons, health care, not poverty, should be the first priority of a Democratic administration” (Brain, 2010) .Some country has made progress meeting this Goal, but success is mixed.  India and China are on track to meet the income target at least, but in a classic example of national disparities, some 221 million people in India and 142 million in China are still chronically or acutely malnourished. More than half of undernourished people, 60 per cent are found in Asia and the Pacific. Thirty per cent of infants born in South Asia in 2003 were underweight, the highest percentage in the world (Poverty, 2008).


Malnutrition contributes to more than half of under-five deaths worldwide. Every 3.6 seconds one person dies of starvation. Usually it is a child under the age of 5. (Development, 2010) Poverty hits the children hardest.. To be poor in America is to be an outcast in your own country. Neuroscientists tell us that this is what poisons a child’s brain. More than half of undernourished people, 60 per cent are found in Asia and the Pacific. Thirty per cent of infants born in South Asia in 2003 were underweight, the highest percentage in the world. Most sub-Saharan African countries will likely miss both targets. The region has 204 million hungry and is the only region of the world where hunger is increasing. More than 40 per cent of Africans cannot even get sufficient food on a day-to-day basis (Poverty, 2008).

             

References

Poverty Poisons the Brain" Retrieved from            http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/opinion/18krugman.html?em

UNICEF Child Survival and Development" Retrieved from
           

                http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index.html

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty” Retrieved from               

             http://www.unicef.org/mdg/poverty.html

Childbirth In My Life and Around the World

The birthing experience I chose to write was the birth of my youngest daughter. I have four daughters and the last one I had a natural childbirth. No anesthesia, which was a critical awakening for me.  Our Insurance changed and I know longer could have epidurals for pain that I had prior with my other three daughters.  I convinced my doctor not to put me to sleep. I did not want to sleep through the birth of my daughter. What a mistake that was! Based on my high blood pressure the doctor decided to induce labor earlier than my original due date. Now Ladies and gentleman I have had headaches and pain before, but I could never have prepared myself for what was about to happen. As the pain began I thought I would be o.k., but in the last stages the pain became unbearable. I then wanted to be put to sleep but based on the insistence and promise from my doctor he did not give it me. I felt as if my body was being ripped apart. I thought I could do this but, to my surprise it was the most painful situation I have ever been in. I have a better respect for my species, because of what we have to go through as women. The joy of holding my daughter for the first time I should say to you was well worth it, as much as I love her, but I don’t think I could be that crazy ever again! Thank God for medication. (Smile).

Birth in South Africa: Indigenous Traditions

South Africa is today a country of many cultures, languages and traditions. Yet at one time, the area was populated only by an original group of indigenous people: the Khoisan Bushmen. Khoisan tribes who have been studied by anthropologists, including the !Kung, has show that not only do they have a vast knowledge of the plant and animal life, but also a sound knowledge of women’s monthly cycles according to the moon, knowledge that pregnancy occurs through sexual intercourse and knowledge of the average length of a pregnancy. Motherhood, amongst the San Bushmen, brings status and social recognition to the young girl after she has navigated the journey of pregnancy and birth (Birth 2011).Unlike our attitude in the western world where women are offered pain relief at the slightest twinge that labor may have begun, a young !Kung woman is actively taught that she must face the pains of natural childbirth with courage and fearlessness. Most women will give birth alone in a squatting position, some few hundred meters from their settlement, and this is regarded as ideal, although mothers giving birth for the first time may have a helper at hand. Bringing a child into the world is a gift to the tribe and a young mother is taught that how she feels and thinks during the pregnancy will affect the labor and birth of the new baby (Birth 2011).Giving birth alone is a tremendous experience for the first time mother among the San Bushmen, and many young girls are encouraged to watch another woman giving birth so that they learn to face their fears. It appears that San women bite the cord with their teeth and bury the placenta after giving birth, before walking back to the settlement. This is her duty, to return the placenta, which is no longer needed, to mother earth. After a birth, the mother is secluded in her hut with the baby until she stops bleeding and burial of the placenta and cord has great importance (Birth 2011).  All African cultures believe that a new baby has come from the spirit world bearing gifts and talents.  The naming ceremony is therefore of vital importance, connecting a baby to the ancestors who have imparted these talents and bonding the newborn to the community.

Birth in South Africa: Indigenous Traditi11ons | Spiritual Birth 2011. Retrieved from

http://www.spiritualbirth.net/birth-in-south-africa-indigenous-traditions - 56k -