Malnutrition Affects Child Development Everywhere

Malnutrition is a topic of grave importance, because without food we all would perish.  This topic has always been a sensitive issue with me.  I didn’t grow up having to worry about food, but so many families do on a daily basis. I am blessed to not have this issue personally, even if I have to charge groceries sometimes. Not all people have the luxury of having a credit card at their disposal to use. I have a sensitive side when I see families, especially children, suffering. I know of people here in the US that is not able to buy food like they need to be able to feed their families properly.  On the other hand, I see so much food being thrown away at school every day that it just kills me to see this waste.  Especially, when I know there are starving children in other parts of the world, like Southern Africa that would love to have some of the food that we throw away on a daily basis.  I have always heard about starving children in Africa.  It just breaks my heart when I see the pictures in the infomercials trying to raise money for them!  

 When I began my research into this topic, I wasn’t shocked to find out that of the African countries, Sub-Saharan Africa has made the least amount of progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger by half by 2015 (Folaranmi, 2012).  The

Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst food shortages in recent years, partly because of increase in population, political conflicts, and climate changes.

The definition of food security and malnutrition

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”(8) This definition is based on four dimensions: the availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality; access by individuals to adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet; utilisation of food through adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and healthcare to reach a state of nutritional well-being where all physiological needs are met; and the ability of populations, households and individuals to have access to adequate food at all times (Folaranmi, 2012).

Honestly, even in the best circumstances, it is hard to meet the definition requirement of food security.  We may live (I live in the US) in a county where food is abundant in stores, but that doesn’t mean we can afford to buy when and what we want.  I want to be able to help children and families one day through mission work or charitable organizations to have enough food to survive. 

Reference

Folaranmi, T. (2012, September 17). Food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa: Current trends, causes, and consequences.  Consultancy Africa Intelligence.

www.consultancyafrica.com

My childbirth experience and births in South Africa

I have two boys, Connor (14) and Tanner (12 next month).  It’s hard to remember everything about their births, but they are the most special births I could ever want to discuss!  I guess I have to say I can remember Tanner’s the most because I was having marriage problems at the time.  It all worked out perfect though, no fretting!!  I went into labor the evening before his birth. I got to the hospital about midnight. I was so nervous and upset. My husband and I got settled into our room and they started hooking me up and checking me out.  The nurses started pain meds after I had dilated enough.  I didn’t have to push near as much as with my first son.  Connor took me forever to push out!  Tanner came out a lot quicker.  I had him at 6:12 am on 6-11-01.  I will never forget that one!  He is a morning person to this day.  We still didn’t have a name picked out for him after he was born, because we couldn’t agree on a name.  It didn’t help that we were still arguing and fighting while I was in labor and even after. Tanner turned out to be ADHD and I feel that it probably stemmed from our not getting along during my pregnancy.  I’m proud that he turned out to be really smart despite the problems!

Birthing experience really does affect the child in more ways than one.  Some women reportedly refuse to go the hospital to give birth and do it at home no matter the complications, because they are too afraid of hospitals. The women had heard how the hospital staff was rough or harsh to others.  The hospital staff doesn’t give proper care to the newborn baby or mother. If a baby came out with any problems, sometimes the staff wouldn’t try to help or save them and would let the infant or mother perish.  Obviously, if an infant doesn’t receive proper care, they could obtain deformities, birth defects, or even mental problems. Some women were reportedly refused pain medications or antibiotics to take home with them.  

I can’t imagine being treated this way.  We are definitely blessed to be in the US where birthing mothers and babies are always priority. Child development has a huge reflection from the birthing experience.  Children born in a harsh environment don’t always live to their potential because of so many complications during birth. Children born in a peaceful and healthy environment usually are born healthier and have the resources to live up to their potential. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and we can thank God for that!

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