Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

The story I have to share do not have an ending yet. This tragic took place in Los Angeles California. A five year old witness his parents being murder while they were sleeping. The son walks to the doorway while it was taking place. The murderous did not see the little boy.  The little boy recognized the shooter. He was friend of the family. When the police arrived they had to hide the little boy so he was placed in witness protection with his grandmother that lives in Michigan. This little boy had to endure heart ache and pain before he was at an age to realize what is being taking place in his life. I do not know how much this little boy will memory when he gets older or will he be able to block this from his memory.

Aids in Africa

Back in 2005 the United Nations reports that 25.8 million HIV-positive adults and children in the region were infected. There are estimated 12.3 million African Aids orphans. They face increased risk of malnutrition and reduced prospect for education. Africa’s AIDS epidemic has much greater effect on children in Africa than in other world regions. Over 600,000 African infants become infected yearly with HIV through mother-to-child transmission, either at birth or through breast-feeding. Most die before the age of two. (2006 Congressional Research Service)

UNAIDS/UNICEF/U.S. Agency for International Development, Children on the Brink, July 2004, Estimates vary; in November 2003. UNICEF predicted that 20 million children would be orphaned by AIDS by 2010. (2006 Congressional Research Service)

http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp

UNAIDS, Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, July 2004 [biannual country-specific HIV prevalence report]

“How AIDS in Africa was Overstated,” Washington Post, Apr.6, 2006.

Early Childhood Development

Breast Feeding is the public health topic I chose. I am at a stage of my life where I want to stop breastfeeding my one year old son. I do not know if it is him or me that is having a hard time stopping. I have my son drinking whole milk and he is doing well with it. The three different countries I looked up was Africa, India, and China to my surprise these countries mostly breastfeed their child to 2 years old.   Some United State women is breastfeeding their child up to the age of 5years old.  A lot of the doctors stated that the first six months is the most important time for a baby to be breastfed. Learning all this I am going to start tonight.

Childbirth

On January 11, 2010 at the age 40 I gave birth to a 6 lb. 8oz boy. My son was born healthy. This is my first child and I wanted to have him natural without any painkillers. I did not know what to expect from the labor but in the end I received an epidural. After researching other countries such as Japan and Germany who strive to give birth without painkillers. Japanese believe that labor  pain acts as a test they must endure for motherhood. I am glad I had a choice to request the painkiller that fitted me.