Nutrition and Malnutrition

Before you can understand how nutrition/malnutrition impacts the development of a child, you must first understand nutrition and malnutrition. Nutrition refers to the consumption of materials necessary to support a healthy life. Malnutrition is the condition that comes from the lack of nutrients in diet, too high of an intake or the wrong proportions are being consumed. Both nutrition and malnutrition play a huge role in the development of children. Proper nutrition provides children with the energy and nutrients needed to meet their physical and mental potential. The lack of nutrients present in a child’s diet is damaging because their bodies are constantly changing, going through different stages of development.

Whether we realize it or not, a child’s diet affects them on a daily basis. Students that get the proper nutrients and the proper amount are providing their bodies with the fuel needed to grow their minds and body. Children with a healthy diet tend to be more focused and have a longer attention span. Children that are malnourished experience fatigue, low energy, and are more perceptible to infection and sickness.

Malnutrition in Central America

Malnutrition has never been a huge problem in Central America until now. Recently, chronic malnutrition has been as prevalent in Central America as it is in Africa and South Asia. In Guatemala, half of all children under five years are chronically malnourished.  In El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, one out of every three children under five years is affected.  There has been no improvement in reducing malnutrition in these four countries for over a decade. Malnutrition in these countries is a direct reflection of increased poverty and has a negative effect on the economic growth. Children that live in poor and rural areas suffer more from malnutrition.

Reference:

Pitts, N.(2012) Central America. Malnutrition and Poverty threaten to the region yet. Retrieved from http://www.jpic-jp.org/71-en.html

The Child Birthing Experience

My personal experience with child birthing is limited. My knowledge of my own birth is limited and I haven't had the pleasure of giving birth. I have had one experience and that one still surprises me til this day. The one experience I have with child birthing happened when I was in college. It wasn't like it was a close friend, it actually was my boyfriend's (at the time) sister. It was kind of one of those situations where you want to be helpful but the awkwardness is kind of overwhelming. I can say the event was one to remember. I remember getting a phone call from my boyfriend saying his sister was going into labor and their was no one that could be their with her, so he asked me to go. My first reaction was pure shock because me and his sister weren't like the best of friends. When I arrived at the hospital, she was in the room and apparently had been in labor for a while. At this point they where monitoring the babies heart rate and trying to get the baby to change its position. I worried that their would be complications and I wasn't sure how to handle it, if their was. Eventually the babies position changed and they ended up inducing her labor. A few hours had passed before she started delivery.I could tell she was in so much pain. Finally, the baby arrived. They weighed him and I was able to take the first picture. While this experience started off awkward, it was a true learning experience. 
I think birth is a special and precious event that occurs. It plays a huge role in the development of the child. Things that happen during the pregnancy effects how the child grows. The chooses people make during prenatal development can have an everlasting effect on how a child learns, behaves, and interacts with others.

Ethiopia's View

Child birth in Ethiopia is different then that of the United States. When a woman is pregnant it is not talked about until she is showing. She is expected to continue working and doing chores until she gives birth. During the eighth month of pregnancy the woman goes and lives with her parents to prepare for the birth. Unlike most people in the United States, items are not purchased for the baby until its born. During the labor the expecting mother, along with family and friends drink coffee and burn incenses as a ritual. This is completely different then what happens here in the United States or at least from my one experienced. Surprisingly in this culture men are not involved in the delivery of their child. In our culture, the role of the husband (or father of child) during delivery is important to most couples. In the rural areas, midwives are used to assist in child birthing. My experience was  different from the child birthing experience of an Ethiopian woman. Different cultures have different views on the process of child birthing but also have many similarities. The main goal is to ensure a safe delivery for the mother and child.

         

Reference:
Molakign, A. (1996) Ethiopian cultural profile: Information about Ethiopian history, culture and  
           community with emphasis on health related issues. Retrieved from EthnoMed website: 
           http://ethnomed.org/culture/ethiopian/copy_of_ethiopian-cultural-profile