Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Stress in My Childhood

When I think about the issues children are faced with in life I realize that they have more to dill with now than I did growing up, even though I am only 24 years old. From 2000 to 2011, the U.S. poverty rate rose from 11.3 percent to 15 percent (Bread for the world institute, 2013). Growing up as a child I was faced with the stressor of poverty. I was not the poorest in my area, but I knew what it was like to struggle.  The beginning part of my child hood was spent in a two parent home and with both parents we were considered to be living at above the poverty line.When my parents split up at the end of my eight grade year it was just my mother and I living together.
My mother at the time was disabled and when my parents split my father lost the house which put my mother and I out on the streets. At that time we had no place to live nor was my mother physically working. She was only receiving partial  disability and a workers comp check. Even with that coming in we were living way below the poverty line. Coping with this situation was hard at first. For about six months were sleeping in the car and in and out of friends and families houses at night. It was hard going to school because some days out of the week I would have on some of the same clothing. I had to deal with children picking on me because my close were re worn and hand me downs. I tried to never let people words bring me down, but it was hard hearing it all the time. I continued to push through school and continued to play sports. Doing this helped me to cope with the situation better because it took my mind off of my situations at home and school. I continued to go to school with a smile on my face and not let others words bother me so much. It was different not having a bed to sleep in, but I did not complain because I new while I was at school my mother was looking for us a place to stay.
After about six months were blessed to find somewhere to live. It was different not having my father around and not having as much money as before. In order to cope with my new living situation I had to learn how to be more responsible and just grow up a little quicker. I had began to help my mother even more around the house, the money that I would make form playing the drums at church I would save it up, but if my mother needed it to pay on the bills or to help her get groceries for the house  I would give it to her. Growing up in poverty taught me how to budget at a young age and to be thankful for the things that I do have because there is always someone who is not as fortunate as I am.

Stressors Impacting Children In Iraq

The biggest stressor that children are being faced with in Iraq is War. Iraq is one of the worst places for children because of the human rights violations caused by two decades of war.  These wars have caused the entire social view of the country to change. The wars have "used ethnic cleansing to break up the unity of the country, destroyed water purification systems, health and educational facilities and indiscriminately bombed dense populated areas." Living in these type of conditions have caused "mental disturbance"( Kentane, 2013).  The wars have cause the area that these children are living in to be a toxic environment because of  the wartime destruction of military and industrial infrastructure. These items have released released heavy metals and other hazardous substances into the air, soil, and groundwater. This could lead to a disease epidemic." Contamination from Depleted Uranium (DU) and other military-related pollution is strongly suspected of causing a sharp rise in congenital birth defects and cancer cases in Iraq and makes the country unlivable( Kentane, 2013)." As far as children's physical development there are more children being born with defects such as heart and the nervous system. It has also caused an increase in cancer in children like leukemia( Kentane, 2013).
Since the wars have occurred that has also increased poverty which has led to low enrollment in schools in this country.  "Only 3.7% of children aged from 36-to 59 months enlisted in nurseries or kindergartens( Kentane, 2013). 5% of children enrolled are between 48-59 months as compared to 2.6% of younger children ( Kentane, 2013). Pre-school enrolment is 5.2% urban against 0.9% in rural( Kentane, 2013)." Also due to the war a lot of schools have had to be rebuild or need work cause the quality of education and attendance rates to drop( Kentane, 2013). " 80% of school buildings required significant reconstruction, over 1,000 required a total rebuild and a further 4,600 major repair( Kentane, 2013). Having a lack of building and overcrowding has caused one third of schools to deliver lessons in two or even three shifts, coupled with acute shortages of essential teaching/learning materials. Students with as much as 6 years of age difference remain in the same classroom and  in some areas there are not enough schools that can provide adequate instruction in the language required by displaced children from other areas( Kentane, 2013). These children are faced with issues that you would not even think of. Some do not attend school because of the safety issues in the country. They continue to get threats about the schools getting blown up.  Because of the war children cognitive development is being affected, females of families are not being allowed to be sent to school, children are resorting to selling drugs and their body for money, and are being faced with kidnapping for human trafficking. Not a lot is being done to help change some to the situations that are going own. Some aspects of the government do not feel as if they are responsible. Even though they do not feel responsible there are other tyring to help turn these stations around( Kentane, 2013).

Although a lot is not being done to help fix these problems in Iraq, there are a few orgnizations that are working own restoring education and fighting for the rights of children. Warchild.org has two projects that they are working on in Iraq: Getting Children back into Education and Supporting Children's Rights(War Child UK., 2013). They are, "training teachers in southern Iraq and giving girls the vocational skills that can build them a better future(War Child UK., 2013)." and they are  "helping local communities to identify and protect vulnerable children and ensure that their basic rights are being met(War Child UK., 2013)."

Refrences
Bread for the world institute. (2013). Within reach global development goals 2013 hunger report. Retrieved from http://www.hungerreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Hunger-Report-2013-lowrez.pdf 
 Kentane, B. (2013, February 19). The children of iraq: “was the price worth it?”. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-children-of-iraq-was-the-price-worth-it/30760

 War Child UK. (2013). Supporting children's rights in iraq. Retrieved from http://www.warchild.org.uk/what-we-do/iraq/supporting-childrens-rights-project 

 War Child UK. (2013). Supporting children's education in iraq. Retrieved from http://www.warchild.org.uk/what-we-do/iraq/supporting-childrens-education-iraq-project

CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH

BREASTFEEDING

I Choose to address the topic of breastfeeding because it is something that I wish to do when I have children. To me breastfeeding is healthier for your baby and it is a natural blessing that was given to us as women. Breastfeeding provides a lot of nutrition to the baby and it helps the baby to have a health immune system.
      Breastfeeding is apart of the Sensory System." Breast milk is a mild sedative, so the newborn feels happier at mother's breast, connecting that pleasure with taste, tough, smell and sight (Berger, 2012).  Breast Milk is a great source of nutrition. It is full of Iron,vitamins and newly discovered nutrients for the brain and body. Babies who are breastfed rarely get sick because the milk form the mother provides antibodies against any disease  that the mother is immune to; it also decreases the risk of asthma and allergies(Berger, 2012).  Facts show that breastfeeding reduces infant disease and death. About 75% of  infants are breastfed in the United States at birth. 45% at 6 months and 22% at a year(Berger, 2012). There are other befits of breastfeeding in relation to the mother and the family.  Breastfeeding allows for mothers to bond easier with them, reduces the risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis, stimulation, Easier travel, not having to pay for formula and its a natural contraception. Breastfeeding for the families increases the survival of other children, Increased family income and less stress on the father(Berger, 2012).  Breast feeding is a wonderful thing, but we must make sure that we add in supplements to make sure that the child is receiving all of the nutrients that are needed such as Vitamin D(Berger, 2012).  Breastfeeding is a universal concept that is used all over the world.

Breastfeedinghttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2704987103196594855#editor/target=post;postID=379304753294864340 In India
 India is a country where breastfeeding is not as popular as in other countries.  Because the level of breast feeding is so low there are organizations such as International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) that promote the importance of breastfeeding in India. This country is ranked 25th among the 33 countries from Asia, Latin America and Africa (Pokharel, 2010).  It is said that only eight million of the 26 million babies born in India every year are breastfed within an hour of birth. UNICEF(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) estimates that only about 46 per cent of infants in India are exclusively breastfed(Walker, 2010). Breast-feeding by Indian women is practiced and encouraged. It is usually continued anywhere from six months to three years.If an Indian woman is having difficulty breast feeding her infant, she may choose to use a traditional feeding cup called a paladai to assist her(Baylor University).  In the country of India it is not an issue about feeding in the public. India is a developing country that is continuing to learn more about the importance of breastfeeding.

This Video gives an overview of the            importance of breastfeeding in the country of India. It gives facts and tells the difference between cows milk and milk from the woman.

My Reflection
After reading the information about breastfeeding in India. I think ti would be great to find away to help promote this issue more in that country. Nonetheless the information I have learned has inspired me even more to breastfeed in the future. I think this information will be a great addition to my work on a cultural aspect.







Refences:
 

Pokharel, K. (2010, December 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/12/23/india-fares-poorly-on-breastfeeding-index/

 Berger, K. (2012). The developing person through childhood. (6th ed., p. 212). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

 Walker, A. (2010, June 24). In tea country, indian mothers learn the importance of breastfeeding. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_54058.html 

 Baylor University. (n.d.). India. Retrieved from https://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles_Kemp/www/indian_health.htm

 

Childbirth In Your Life and Around The World

Personal Birthing Experience
For this assignment  I chose to write about the birthing experience of my nephew Elijah. I do not have any children of my own yet and I do not know a a lot about how my birthing experience went in detail. My Nephew Elijah is a child that we call a blessed child. His mother has a rare blood type and majority of the people with her blood type usually always have miscarriages; if there pregnancy is not detected within the first trimester. Before Elijah was conceived she had miscarried two other children. Once we found out that she was pregnant with Elijah we(family) were informed that there were shots that she could take that would help her carry to full term. My Family and I all supported her along with her family with the decision to have the shots to help her carry him full term. Already baby Elijah was receiving support from his Exosystems and Microsystem.
 I remember during the whole time she was was pregnant I would go sing to Elijah and talk to Elijah while he was still in the womb. The night she went in to labor both sides of the family were there to support her as she got ready to welcome him in to the new world. That night at the hospital was the longest night. She stayed in labor for over 17 hours. While she was in labor we all  took turns going up talking to her, getting ice, holding her hand, just giving her all of the support that she needed while she was in labor. I remember like it was yesterday when they said he had entered into the world. We all went up stairs and we got to hold him and talk to him and just nurture him so much. I remember holding his big, little hand and I remember how long and solid he was. He just brought so much joy to everyone's heart. Not only did I get to experience his birth I got to experiences the after birth of the placenta as well. That was a very interesting experience. It was like she was talking to us and next thing you know she was in pain and it came out.
I chose to talk about this experience because it was such a blessing to my sister-in-law and to the family. She had been through so much with the previous miscarriages that it was such a joyous  occasion when he came into the world. I think the birth of a child has a big impact on child development. When a child is born in a good environment and has the support of the family and friends, I believe this will allow for the child to have  healthy development. If that child is birthed in a safe place and is able to bond with the parents it will effect their development in a positive way. A healthy birth leads to healthy development.

Birthing in Korea
While doing some research on Birth's in Korea I found out that women there are encouraged to have male children;if they do not have male children they are looked down upon.  I learned that there a certain order that they go through to inform people that they are pregnant that is she has to tell the mother-in-law first, then the husband, then her own mother.  During the delivery the mother and a female relative is present and the father can come if he chooses to( Lee, 2008).  During the delivery process if the family lives in the city and can afford it they will use a midwife or doctor’s aide to deliver the baby, but if they  don't live close to the city they will have a home birth( Lee, 2008).  I learned that there are many taboos that are present when a mother becomes pregnant in Korea. They take heed in these taboos to ensure a healthy child and a healthy delivery. The mother is not allowed to do anything that is considered unclean which are: killing things, When using the restroom she has to not step over a straw rope, steal or do other mischievous things. If she does these things it is said that she will  have a difficult delivery, bear a child that may be retarded or diseased, or cause some other misfortune to happen to the family(Korean Embassy, 2000).
 They also believe certain foods such as rabbit, squid, crab, eggs and peaches  are considered to be harmful. When it gets close to the delivery the fireplace and holes in paper doors should not be repaired and if the parents see a burning house it is considered to be bad luck and it will effect the unborn child(Korean Embassy, 2000). To make sure that delivery is safe all doors are kept open, the husband's clothes are used as quilts, and they borrow clothes from women  who had an easy childbirth to cover the woman from the beginning of labor.  After the child is born the Placenta is burned under the house if they desire more children. If they do not want more children then it is buried in a sunny place on the side of the mountain away from the house. When they are determining  the sex of the baby it could be based on the mothers appearance, dream interpretation and calculations based on the age of the parents. In there culture they believe that if the mother dreams about horses, oxen, dragons, tigers, bears, or other large animals,she will have a boy and if she dreams about flowers or toys that girls play with then she will have a girl. After the Child is born they hang a straw rope called a kumchul across the gate of the house(Korean Embassy, 2000). If the child is a boy the rope is made with pine branches and red peppers; if it is a girl it will be made with charcoal. They hang this to keep out evil spirits and to warn people not to come into the house because a child was just born. The baby is kept in the house and away from strangers for the first year( Lee, 2008). After the birth of the child the mother is fed rice and seaweed soup just like the gods to aid in her recovery(Korean Embassy, 2000).
From my experience of birth in America to that of birth in Korea is quite different. A lot of families there have birth at home if they do not live close to the city or can afford it. Unlike in America after the baby is born everyone can just go and see him, but in Korea they are not allowed to do that until after about a year. Also I learned that the mother or a female cousin is allowed in while the birth is happening and the father can choose if he want to be there or not. In American you can have who you want in the birthing room and it is extremely important that the father is there for the delivery. I noticed that we do share some of the same taboos such as eating certain foods that could be considered harmful. After looking at how birth occurs in both citations I learned that we both have our own sets of taboos that we consider to have an affect in the birth and the development of the child. I learned that environment does play a major role in how the child may develop, for example in Korea the child is not exposed to other people until after a year, which could affect there development as far as emotional and social.







Refrences:
Korean Embassy. (2000). Birth. Retrieved from http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/cel/birth.htm 

 Lee, E. (2008). Pregnancy and child birth from the korean perspective. Retrieved from http://www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNKorean11.html