How poverty affects children's development

Working for a Head Start program, I see daily how poverty can be a stresser in a child's life.  President Johnson talks about poverty being like a family birthmark that is passed down from generations (Johnson, 1965).  With poverty can come unsuitable housing, lack of nutritious meals, lack of medical attention, and minimal educational support.  These stressors can cause caregivers to abuse and neglect their children, which will have negative effects on a young child's development.  Biosocially children may not grow properly or may not thrive if proper nutrition is not available.  Lack of medical attention also negatively impacts a child's biosocial development.  Language development may be delayed if parent do not see the benefits of quality interactions with their children in their youngest years.  Early childhood is a prime learning period (Berger, 2009).  Programs, such as Head Start, help parents to understand the importance of quality interactions, medical attention, proper housing, and nutrition and exercise. 

I chose to research how poverty affects Haiti and how natural disasters, like hurricanes, are a direct result of poverty, in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.  With oil too expensive for this poverish country, the people have resorted to using charcoal from burnt trees for energy (Masters, 2011).  Large amount of cut trees have left empty mountain slopes that allows rainwater to wash down unimpeded.  In 1980, Haiti had 25% of its forest remaining and the country was able to withstand a category 3 hurricane with no lives taken.  However, only 1.4% of the forest remain and only heavy rains from a tropical storm are enough to take thousands of lives (Masters, 2011).  Children are affected as their families are torn apart from death and disaster.  Education and poverty eradication are necessary for improvement.  Reforestation efforts and promoting of alternative fuels is necessary. 


Berger, K.S. (2009).  The Developing Person (5th edition).  New York, NY:  Worth Publishers.

Johnson, L. (1965, May 18).  [Project Head Start speech].  Speech presented at the White House, Washington D.C.

Masters, J.  (2011).  Hurricanes and Haiti:  A Tragic History.  Retrieved from:  http://wunderground.com/

 

Mental Health of mothers, fathers, and families

Mental health of mothers, fathers, and families, is key to a healthy development of young children.  These members are the child's immediate environment, and the more stable families are, the better chance a child will have a more positive mental health.  This is meaningful to me in my current position of working with children of poverty and their families.  I assist families in receiving the proper interventions so they can provide for their children.  For young children, mental health of mothers can affect a secure mother-infant attachment.  A fathers involvement with the mother and family can either strengthen or deprive the child of a healthy development.  If a father also has a mental health disability or is the cause of the mother's negative mental health, this can negatively impact the positive interactions.  These conditions have been found to encourage behavioral and psychological problems in the child (Alvarez, Hosman, Walraven, Doesum, & Hoefanagels, 2010).

In developing countries, 12% to 15% of urban adults suffer from depression (Montgomery, 2009).  Mental health of the mother can affect the ability to deploy in seeking healthcare for her children and other family members.  This can become a vicious cyle.  Mental health interventions are only beginning to be studied in developing countries (Montgomery, 2009).

"Happier husbands tend to be more involved fathers" (Berger, 2009).  With this statement, I see in my future work, strongly encouraging fathers to get involved with their children and families.  If parents can work together to solve problems and provide effectively for their families, children will reap the benefits.

Montgomery, M.R., June 2009.  Urban Poverty & Health in Developing Countries.  64(2).  Retrieved from http://www.prb.org/

Alvarez, L.E., Hosman, C.M., Walraven, J., van Doesum, K., & Hoefnagels, C.  (2010),  Long-term effects of a home-visiting intervention for depressed mothers and their infants.  The journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.  51(10).

Berger, K.S.,  2009.  The Developing Person (5th Edition).  New York, NY.  Worth Publishing.

Personal Birthing Experience

I chose the birth of my last son to write about.  First, because it was the most recent and also because it was my last and a bit different than my other two.  This birth was planned and scheduled, due to having gestational diabetes.  From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I was careful to receive the best prenatal care, from vitamins, eating healthy, exercising, and keeping scheduled appointments with my doctor.  It was this pregnancy that I ended up with diabetes.  Besides regular injections and sugar checks, all was well. 

The day of my scheduled delivery, my husband, mother, and I were welcomed by caring nurses and doctors.  They explained how inducing my labor would occur and that they would monitor my blood sugar, as well as the baby's upon delivery.  Once the petocin was increased, labor moved quickly, and the epidural had no time to begin to work.  Our third son was born healthy and with no effects from the diabetes.  My pregnancy and delivery were fairly stress free.  I trusted my doctors and nurses and felt confident in knowing they would help me to care for me and my child.  This trust and healthy prenatal care, has had a positive impact on my now wonderful two year old.  He is a "normal", curious, toddler that was born into a relatively stress free home, which I believe has a great impact on his relaxed personality. 

I wish I could say the same for children born in other countries.  I chose to research births in Liberia.  This country interested me because I have a cousin that adopted two children from Liberia and their development is not typical of a healthy developing child.  I found that Liberia has one of the highest mortality rates in the world.  Most deliveries are at home because women are afraid of health centers, they are a 7-8 hour or more hour walk away, some continue this behavior due to respecting their culture.  Most do not realize they are risking their lives.  Liberia is one of the top 15 countries for maternal mortality, mainly from hemorrhage, where transfusions are impossible.  Most give birth at home with a family member.  There are only about 400 trained midwives with 3.5 million people.  The country has a high rate of rape, and abortion is illegal and not socially accepted.  In Liberia, $22 is spent a year per person on healthcare, compare to the U.S. at $6.697 per person per year.  That amount astounds me!  Because of the women's inability to make decisions in their culture, many have no other choice but to continue this cycle.  From the beginning, these children are at a disadvantage for a healthy physical, cognitive, and social development.

Lori, J.R.  (2009).  Cultural Childbrith Practices, Beliefs, and Traditions in Liberia.  Retrieved from http://www.nursing.arizona.edu/