Access to Healthy Water

It is baffling to see how many parts of the world are affected by water shortages. We take for granted the access to healthy water that is available to us. As safe drinking water is a basic need, it is difficult to imagine there being a lack of water or lack of access to safe water for many countries around the world.

Africa is the second driest continent in the world, after Australia, and millions of Africans still suffer from water shortages throughout the year. Fourteen countries in Africa are already experiencing water stress. Almost half of the population (778 million in 1997) suffers from one of the six major water-related diseases. Every day, 650 people die from diarrhea in Africa, mainly children under five years of age.

Key facts about children and the lack of water

1. Over three million children in the Horn of Africa are currently affected by water shortages.
2. Diarrhea diseases are responsible for filling more than half the world’s hospital beds. Each child in a developing country suffers an average of 10 attacks of diarrhea before the age of 5.
3. The average distance walked to collect water in Africa and Asia is 6km.
4. Worldwide, approximately 443 million school days are lost annually due to diarrhea disease.
5. Only half of schools in developing countries have access to water and sanitation facilities.

Access to healthy water is a global issue that affects many people throughout the world. As water is one of the most basic human needs for survival, it is essential that this issue continues to be addressed. When you see issues like this, it helps me to be more aware of the serious issues that can not only affect someones health, but also their development.

Resources:

Save the Children. (Jan. 2011). The Impact on Children of Water Shortages. Retrieved from http://images.savethechildren.it/IT/f/img_pubblicazioni/img85_b.pdf

The Water Project. (2010). Global Water Shortage: Water Scarcity & How to Help. Retrieved from http://thewaterproject.org/water_scaricity.asp

Children's Quotes

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. Stacia Tauscher

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about. Angela Schwindt

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.
William Stafford

Testing for Intelligence

Assessing the mind of a child is a difficult, if not impossible task. There are so many factors that impact the learning and development of an individual, and each individual is so unique that it is extremely difficult to find an assessment that will measure all with the same precision. While we can use the information from the assessments to compare what one child can do on an assessment compared to her peers, the difference in learning styles from this individual compared to the "norm" may be very different. So, do these results really tell us what this child can or cannot do, or does is simply tell us that this child needs to do it differently? In order to understand a child in a holistic approach, we need to look at all aspects of a child including intelligence, achievement, and social-emotional. It would also be necessary to look into the medical history of a child along with their environment. Even with this full battery of assessments, we may still not understand the true ability of a child. However, we will get a good understanding of how the child performs compared to where society expects the "norm" to perform.

Upon researching other parts of the world, and assessments used, I found a website by the University of New South Whales. This website is set up for schools from 20 different countries to use their assessment tools in each of the core areas of Math, English, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Computer Skills. This site then offers to report all of the assessment data for each of the different schools to use in determining how their students are doing compared to other students in each of the other countries. This is very similar to what we do in the United States when we compare what we do in our state compared to what other states do. However, all of these countries are using the exact same assessments while each state tends to have their own standardized tests.

While many parts of the world are using different assessment tools to "understand" the mind of a child, each of these tools are simply used to compare individual children compared to society's "norm". These assessment tools are useful and important in order for us to see the abilities of children, and, maybe more importantly, the growth of a child. However, these tools do not necessarily help us to understand the mind of a child, regardless of what part of the world you live in.

Resource:

UNSW Global. The University of New South Wales. Retrieved from http://etc.unsw.edu.au/about_icas

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

I am not able to recall knowing someone well enough from my childhood who had major stressors in their lives. However, I do work with a number of families who have and are experiencing poverty. Sadly, many families are struggling with not having enough money for bills, food, and other necessities. One family in particular, brings home one income to provide for all six family members. As their income is based on minimum wage, they do not bring enough money home to support them. This family relies on food stamps and cash grants to pay for their food and bills. They will also use their local food pantry when supplies run low. As a home visitor it is my responsibility to support this family by making them aware of all the community resources in their area. This past summer their entire roof was leaking and they had mold in between their walls. As they knew the importance of getting their roof fixed, they were not able to afford it. Getting their roof fixed was the means to survival for this family. After asking other community members, I found a roofing company that was involved in a church. This roofing business partnered with their church and provided this family with a new roof as part of their community service. Everything seems to be hard for this family. Poverty does not only involve not having enough, but it can affect your health as well. The parents are struggling with depression and trying to keep their marriage together. The children are also effected. They don't have to worry about how they are going to get enough money, but they are forced to listen to mom and dad fighting and how their parents are too depressed to play with them. Poverty affects families in all areas of their life.

I chose to research Zambia, which is a country in Africa. This country's population is approximately 12.9 million. English is the official language in Zambia, however the main local language is Nyanja, especially in Lusaka. Life expectency is about 39 years and the infant mortality rate is 101 per 1,000 births. Tuition in Zambia is free until age 7 and most children drop out at this age once tuition needs to be paid. About two-thirds of Zambians live in poverty. HIV/AIDS is the nation's greatest challenge, as approximately 14.3% are affected by this disease. Approximately, 120,000 children in Zambia are affected by HIV/Aids. HIV/Aids is this countries biggest stressor. Many attempts have been made in Zambia to make awareness about HIV. Campaigns, anti-aid clubs, awareness on television, radio and press are all involved in bringing awareness to the people in Zambia. There are still many misconceptions about HIV/Aids in Zambia. About two-thirds of young people in Zambia are not able to correctly identify ways this disease spreads. As treatment for HIV/Aids is necessary, it is essential that Zambia continues to receive support and funding for the treatment and prevention of this disease.

Each stressor that a person faces, greatly impacts their life. In order to overcome these stressors, people need to have supports in place. Without the proper support, people may never overcome these difficulties. As each person or family experiences stressors their education, development, and health may be effected.

Resource:

U.S. Department of State. (2010, September). Background Note: Zambia. Retrieved from
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2359.htm

Child Development and Public Health

I chose to write about nutrition and malnutrition. As all of the public health issues are essential in every child's development, I find that nutrition and malnutrition is widespread around the world and deeply effects each and every one of us. It is incredibly sad to learn of all the communities that are affected by malnutrition and their outcomes.

Malnutrition is very apparent in the country of Benin. Benin's population is about 9 million people and some 50 languages. More than one in three Beninese children under the age of five show signs of chronic malnutrition. Most families harvest crops for both income and consumption and feed their children whatever crops are available. In most situations, the reason for malnutrition is the lack of food that is available. In Benin however, a nurse who works at a Health Clinic in Benin, stated that there is not a shortage of food but, rather, mothers don't use the right ingredients, which makes the main cause of malnutrition "ignorance." This information was very insightful. I, too, always thought that malnutrition was caused by lack of food. In this country unequal power between men and women is also one of the causes of child malnutrition. Men often buy the meat and eat their share first and leave whatever is left over for the women and children. Myths about food also add to the problem of malnutrition.

UNICEF is working with Benin's Ministry of Health to prevent child illnesses related to malnutrition. After learning more about Benin and the cause of malnutrition, many of these children's lives can be saved by providing education on proper nutrition to their families. It is important that all families, even the ones that are not suffering from malnutrition, are being educated on the importance of nutrition and the impact it has on their child's development. Being a professional in the early childhood field it is my passion to advocate for young children and their families and educate them on all public health issues.

Resource: UNICEF (2010, April). Engaging Communities to Prevent Malnutrition in Benin. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/benin_53329.html

Childbirth in Ethiopia

Pregnant women in Ethiopia will go to the house of their mother when labor starts. Once she arrives, all the men leave the family hut and the women of the village gather to provide support and encouragement. Most women have witnessed the births of siblings, cousins and other children of the village by the time they are ready to give childbirth. The women of the village stay throughout the labor. The women sing and tell stories for as long as the labor lasts. The children come in and out of the hut but no male child over the age of seven is allowed in. Ethiopians ideas and beliefs about childbirth is through a Christian religion. As labor progresses, women of the village pray and chant for the birthing mother to cope. The women dig a hole in the floor of the hut and the new mother births the placenta in the hole where it will be buried. The new mom does not get left alone with her baby for ten days. Ethiopians believe that the new mother is more likely to become crazy or possessed and may harm herself or the baby. Soon after the birth, a priest from the closest church will come and bless the baby and sprinkle holy water on any family member who has touched the woman. The holy water is meant to protect anyone who has had contact with the mother.

As childbirth is very different from ours in the United States, there a still some similarities. One of the similarities to my experience in childbirth, is the importance of faith and religion. While specific beliefs are different we still rely on our faith to see us through life occurrences. I also had the support and encouragement throughout my labor and after.

In the United States we have access to quality medical care throughout our entire pregnancy and after. We have choices that women in Ethiopia could only dream of. We can choose from hospital, home or birth center. We can choose a doctor or midwife. We have the choice to have our family and friends present during the labor and after. We our very blessed to have the freedom and opportunity for quality care here the United States.

Birthing Experience

I gave birth to my daughter Taylor on March 10, 2006. The day Taylor was born was one of most memorable and happiest days in our life. We couldn't wait to meet her and hold her. Throughout my pregnancy I measured small. In 35th week they did ultrasound that showed I had low fluid. Because she was breech, they were already planning on doing a c-section and due to the low fluid they scheduled the surgery that very same day. We spent 35 weeks waiting for her to arrive and in an instance she was going to be here. We were happy and anxious at the same time. Family and friends waited for her arrival. Taylor was a healthy and beautiful 5lb 10oz baby. We were blessed and very thankful! We had some minor issues that took place while we were in the hospital. Taylor had low blood sugar and low temperature that was monitored. We also found out that she had hip dysplasia from being breech that required her to be in a harness for three months. We were so thankful that all these issues that seemed so big at the time, were all resolved, and resulted in a healthy and happy little girl.