Consequences of Stress on Child Development

All children deserve to grow up in an environment that is rich in love, culture, education, and experience.  They should be safe, nurtured, cherished, stimulated cognitively, and be free of stress and the burdens that adults have.  Childhood should be a time of discovery and happiness, joy and wonder, excitement and achievement.  Unfortunately, almost all children face some sort of stress throughout their childhood, whether it is parental divorce, moving to another location, disease or trauma, loss of a loved one, poverty, racism, or abuse.  All of these stressors can be devastating for a child and can impact them throughout their life.  As I reflect on my own childhood, I feel very blessed to have a fairly ideal upbringing - with parents who loved me, a good family support system, excellent educational opportunities, and in a geographical location that assured me freedom to enjoy a stress-free childhood.  My husband grew up in a less ideal family.  He was raised by hard-working parents who loved him, but they also had the stress of raising a very large family with very little money.  My husband remembers eating beans and beats frequently because that was the only food his parents could provide at times.  They often went without Christmas presents, treats and the desired things in life, but my in-laws loved their children, and taught them very high values, morals, and how to work hard.  My husband's family ended up moving several times throughout his childhood to look for better financial opportunities and work for his parents.  In regards to having the monetary necessities and stability, my husband's childhood would seem much less "ideal" than mine.  However, he remembers it as being happy and positive because he knew his parents loved him and they taught him to work hard and value everything they had.  My husband's sister grew up in the same physical environment as he did, however, she became the victim of  sexual abuse as a young teenager, which drastically effected her self-esteem and the course of her entire life.  She never told anyone about the abuse until this year, when her son also experienced sexual abuse and she advocated for immediate psychological treatment for him.  She never got the treatment she needed in her childhood and this has caused her much mental & emotional stress throughout her life.  Her son is in treatment, and is doing very well.  My sister-in-law, however, faced some very difficult challenges throughout her life because of the abuse.  She married an abusive husband, has not been able to hold a steady job for longer than a few months, and is plagued by emotional and mental handicaps.  Her children are also facing a long road of recovery from their father abusing their mother and verbally abusing them.  It is a devastating cycle that could have been stopped early on if she had told someone about the abuse and got the treatment that she needed to help her cope and overcome the abuse.  We are now trying to rally around her and her children, and get them the help they need.  

The World Health Organization states that child abuse and maltreatment is a global problem, but it is hard to estimate the prevalence of abuse because many children (and adults who witness or suspect) do not report the abuse.  It is estimated that approximately 31,000 annual homicide deaths of children under 15 are due to abuse or maltreatment of children, though WHO says this underestimates the actual number because many deaths of children are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning and other causes (when they are probably abuse/maltreatment cases that cannot be proven).  In the United States, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 905,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2006.  The seriousness of this issue cannot be fully comprehended or measured.  "While physical injuries may or may not be immediately visible, abuse and neglect can have consequences for children, families, and society that last lifetimes, if not generations" (U.S. Dept. of Health, 2012).  

The World Health Organization says child abuse/maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development.  "Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems.  Consequently, as adults, maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioral, physical and mental health problem" (WHO, 2012).  My sister-in-law has suffered with mental health problems, learning disorders, and depression since adolescence and requires medication to help her cope and deal with her difficult daily life.  She has incredibly low self-esteem, which impacts her ability to hold a job and think positively about her life.  Although our family is very saddened at how her abuse has effected her life, we are very proud of how determined she is at helping her son face the same issue.  She has become an amazing advocate for him and her experience is helping him to get the help he needs to cope and overcome his abuse.

What is being done to help children and what can we do better?  Governments and organizations globally are trying to provide better preventative support and education to those parents and children in high-risk categories for abuse (poverty, high-stress, substance abuse, cultural norms/beliefs of child-rearing using corporate punishment).  New parents are getting education, as early as before leaving the hospital with a newborn, on how to deal with parental stress and coping with crying infants.  Children are being taught how to recognize sexual abuse and to disclose it to a trusted adult, and more adults are learning how to recognize signs of abuse and report it.  Global organizations, like the World Health Organization, are advocating international support for and investment in evidence-based child maltreatment prevention and are providing technical and financial support for prevention programs in low and middle income countries.  The awareness and advocacy of child abuse prevention and treatment must spread, and as an early childhood educator, I commit to do my part.

Resource Links:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs150/en/index.html

Childhood Immunizations Save Lives!

The topic I chose to discuss this week is the importance of childhood immunizations.  The reason why this is meaningful to me is because my center is part of a hospital organization which requires all employees and all children attending the child development center to be fully immunized without exemption (unless it is a valid medical exemption with legal medical proof).  Our child development center requires complete immunizations because we offer a high amount of infant care and our babies are at risk to contract preventable diseases because they are not able to be fully immunized until age 2.  I have had discussions with many parents regarding why we require immunizations, the importance of getting immunizations for their children, and why they must keep current with these immunizations.  It is a constant, vigilant discussion and one that we take very seriously.  Problems arise when parents are not properly informed about the importance of immunizations, or are too relaxed at making sure their child receives these immunizations on-time and in completion.  I chose to read articles related to immunizations because I would like to assemble current research to aid in my advocation of this topic with parents.

Why Are Immunizations Important?
Dr. Rob Parker, a medical health officer with Interior Health said, "Immunizations doesn't just protect you, it protects those around you.  When most people are vaccinated for a disease it makes it harder for the disease to spread from person to person.  Recent outbreaks of whooping cough (pertussis) and measles are close-to-home reminders of the important role immunization plays in protecting the health of ourselves, our children and our communities.  Immunizations are safe and effective and they help save lives" (The Tribune, 2012).

A Great Challenge Facing Infant Immunizations:

"One of greatest challenges facing infant immunizations in Utah is the perception that vaccine-preventable diseases do not present a significant threat and there is no reason to immunize children. But, it is a fact that many children in our communities are not fully immunized and remain at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Often when children are not immunized, epidemics of disease can recur.   For example, 741 pertussis (whooping cough) cases were reported in Utah in 2006. Many of these cases occurred in children and adolescents.  Children need immunizations in the first two years of life to protect them against disease, disability, and even death. And immunizations should continue into adolescence and adulthood to provide adequate protection" (immunize-utah.org, 2012)

Proof that Immunizations Have Worked World-wide at Eradicating Disease:

In 1969 when the rubella vaccine was invented, the United States of America had close to 60,000 cases of rubella.  Rubella can cause expectant mothers to miscarry, deliver stillborn babies, or have infants with serious birth defects.  In the year 2000, reported rubella cases in the United States had fallen to 176 due to the immunization.  However, expectant mothers remain at risk without immunizations because people from other countries where inoculations are rare can bring the disease.  For example, rubella is still an active malady in Mexico.  "Around the world some 100,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome are reported each year, a 2002 survey of the Centers for Disease Control notes.  Thanks to immunizations, however, this country had just 11 such cases in 2000 and 2001" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005).

Immunizations have been very effective at wiping out disease worldwide over the past century.  This is exemplified by the eradication of smallpox and the near disappearance of polio except in Africa, where religious leaders discouraged vaccinations due to the misconception that the polio vaccine caused female infertility.  In many of these countries where polio has resurfaced, no more than 30% of children are vaccinated.  This virus mainly affects children younger than 5 and can cause paralysis for life.  "The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, supported by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has spent $3.1 billion since 1988 to try to eradicate polio before 2005.  In 1998, polio was spread throughout 125 countries, affecting 350,000 people a year; now it is endemic in only six countries - Nigeria, Niger, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Egypt.  Ninety percent of cases are in Africa" (Dixon, 2004).

Resources Used:

Dixon, R. (2004, Jun 23). The world; nigerian polio outbreak spreads over region, health agency says; rumors about vaccine's safety led some parents to shun immunizations for children. number of cases are expected to start rising sharply. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/421895958?accountid=14872

Immunizations protect your world. (2012, Apr 27). The Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1009871820?accountid=14872

Medical wonders immunizations save lives, only if people get them. (2005, Mar 30). Pittsburgh Post - Gazette. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/390861510?accountid=14872

Link:

http://www.immunize-utah.org

Childbirth in My Life Compared to Around the World

As part of our Walden Coursework this week, we were asked to write about a personal birthing experience in comparison to other birthing experiences from a different country or region.

I am the mother of four amazing children - all born with modern, traditional american medical practice.  All of my children were delivered vaginally by medical doctors in a hospital setting.  In southern countries such as Africa, Asia and Latin America, women seldom deliver in a hospital.  Most deliver at home or in a specially prepared hut in their village.  Instead of a doctor, many of these women are attended by a traditional birth attendant who are part of their local culture and are personally acquainted with the women and their families (Legeber and Voorhoever, 1997).  These birthing attendants follow culturally specific rituals but are not necessarily trained in medical practice.  Common practices during birthing stages include massage of the abdomen with herbs,  and use of oils to lubricate the perineum.  During prolonged labor, vomiting is induced by inserting a spatula into the woman's mouth.  The article I read did not mention if the baby's father also attended the birth.  My husband was able to attend the births of all our children, which was an amazing experience.  I found it very interesting that after birth, women from these other countries were kept indoors for 8-40 days and are provided herb infusions to drink.  I didn't stay in the hospital longer than 2 days (which was long enough!).  The placenta is often buried in a special place in the village.  "In all three continents, Africa, Asia and Latin America, taboos are placed on 'protective foods' (food products which contain vitamins and minerals) during the Antenatal period for fear of miscarriage.  At the end of pregnancy there are taboos on 'food for growth' (food products which contain protein) and 'energy producing food' (food products which contain carbohydrates and fats) for fear the infant may grow too big and cause delayed or obstructed labor" (Legeber and Voorhoever, 1997).  While I was pregnant with my first baby, I attended a Bradley Method Birthing class which encouraged mothers to eat a lot of protein - and I did.  My first son ended up being 8 pounds (with a huge head) and was very difficult to deliver.  I also gained more weight with my first pregnancy then with any other.  Although I don't agree with avoiding food packed with vitamins and minerals (in fact I took prenatal vitamins throughout all my pregnancies), I do think there is wisdom in avoiding excesses in food that are high protein, high carbohydrate and/or high fat.

All of my children's births were exciting and had unique experiences, but I would like to tell about the birth of my firstborn son who truly had a unique birth.  My older sister, Chanon, and I were pregnant with our first babies together.  I was due a couple of weeks before Chanon, but she developed a rash (basically an allergy to being pregnant) and was medically started to deliver a few weeks early.  I happened to go into labor the same day that Chanon was started.  We both had married men named James (her husband is called Jim and mine is James).  We both had the same wonderful doctor.  We now had the opportunity to deliver these little cousins in the same hospital on the same day.  It became a race and my parents had a great time going back and forth between our rooms waiting to see who had the first grand-baby.  We made a bet who would deliver first (loser had to buy pizza!).  Chanon ended up delivering her little guy, James Logan Peterson first without any complications.  My labor went quickly, and approximately one hour after Logan made his appearance - I was ready to deliver.  I mentioned above that my firstborn, Josh, was a very big baby and I had a very difficult delivery.  I ended up having to have two nurses push on my abdomen to try to get Josh through the birth canal - causing me to vomit multiple times during the delivery.  Because he was so big for my small frame, I tore quite a bit during birth and lost a lot of blood.  I later passed out twice and ended up being very sick for several days after the birth.  I was thankful to have a wonderful doctor who stayed calm during this delivery and could address my medical needs in a professional way.  My son, Joshua James Curtis, was delivered healthy and we were thrilled with our perfect little man! Both of Josh's grandmothers got to be in the delivery room with my husband and I.  It was special to have them there.  Our local newspaper ran a story about these cousins being born with the same name, born on the same day, in the same place.  The newspaper article mentioned that we had lost the bet and now had to buy pizza, so a pizza restaurant called us and said they would donate the pizza to us!  I recovered and barely remember all the traumatic parts of Josh's delivery - what I remember the most is the amazing experience that I was able to share with my husband, our parents and my sister.  These "little guys"are now 19 and are very handsome young men!  Love them!

Logan Peterson and Joshua Curtis - Buddies since Birth!  Born May 20, 1993

Resource Cited:  Lefèber, Y. and Voorhoever, H. (1997), Practices and beliefs of traditional birth attendants: lessons for obstetrics in the north?. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2: 1175–1179. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1997.d01-219.x