Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

There are many stressors that can affect a child's life. I have chosen to research isolation.  When a child is isolated they keep their feelings completely to themselves, and do not communicate with others. Social cues are learned activities and an isolated child does not have the opportunity to learn social cues such as sharing.  Emotional instability is very common among isolated children. Other emotions that occur when an isolated child is around other people include anxiety, stress, and apprehension. interaction with others is imperative to develop a child's healthy self-image or self-esteem. Isolated children do not feel comfortable around others because they lack the ability to communicate and follow social cues. They may feel they do not look good enough to fit in, this may create a poor self-image.

Child Development and Public Health

The public health topic I chose is breastfeeding. This topic is meaningful to me because I know the many health benefits that babies receive from breastfeeding.  Breastfed babies are smarter than formula fed babies. There immune system is stronger, meaning they are less susceptible to becoming sick. In Africa the AIDS epidemic could threaten breastfeeding because the virus can be transmitted through breastmilk. Only 38% of children less than six months of age in the developing world are exclusively breastfed.  This very low rate in the uptake of a practice that contributes to the health and well-being of both the child and the mother is of utmost public health importance and requires urgent intervention. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “breastfed children have at least six times greater chance of survival in the early months than non-breastfed children.” The potential impact of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is especially important in developing countries which are characterized by a high burden of disease and low access to clean water and adequate sanitation. It is said that promoting EBF is the most effective child health intervention currently feasible for implementation in low-income populations that cannot afford or sustain the use of safe infant formula. This new knowledge has impacted my future, I will inform expecting mothers of the health benefits of breastfeeding for their child.

Child birth in my life and around the world

As I reflect on my child birthing experiences I am reminded of the many thoughts that raced through my mind as I was about to deliver my boys. The excitement and the fear, knowing that I was about to meet the life that had been growing inside me. My life's journey now consisted of myself and another life that I was to be responsible for. The thoughts of fear emerged, the realization that I was about to be in charge of a life that depended solely on me for survival. Those were the only thoughts that raced in my mind, but for the mothers in Africa and India they worried if themselves and their babies would survive. In Africa and India the maternal morality ratios are higher simply because mothers don't have access to health facilities. These developing countries require more hospitals because these mothers and their babies are dying because they are delivering their babies in their homes. These mothers are not receiving the prenatal care they need and the fetus is more susceptible to teratogens.