During my childhood, I was blessed not to have any of the stressors, such as poverty, war, racism, etc. nor did any of my friends, which I’m aware of. So I cannot speak personally about these stressors and how they affect children, but I can talk about a true story and movie about a young man from my hometown. ‘The Blind Side’ is a movie portraying Michael Oher’s struggle with poverty and his success within football. This is a very popular movie and a real tear jerker. Michael Oher was born to a crack addicted mother, grew up in the projects, he also moved around and slept couch to couch. Because of an acquaintance, had the opportunity to attend one of the top private high schools in the city, Biarcrest. In 2004, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, a couple with a daughter and son attending Briarcrest, allowed Oher to live with them and eventually adopted him. He went on to graduate high school, attend Ole Miss, and he became a NFL player for the Baltimore Ravens. It is good to hear and see a story about someone who beat the odds.

“Around 1.2 million Egyptian children live in absolute poverty. More than 1.4 million children live on less than 1 US dollar per day” (www.un.org). Could you imagine living on $1 a day? “It is important to look at how poverty is affecting their lives and how we can address it, because a child who lives in poverty rarely gets a second chance at an education or a healthy start in life,” stated Ms. Kaag (www.un.org). For example through Save the Children, Egypt has provided street children with education and vocational training. Poverty will not disappear, but the effort is great.

References :

Child Poverty and Disparities Study in Egypt Launched. Retrieved from: http://www.crop.org/storypg.aspx?id=274&MenuNode=633953432867962126&zone=3

Egypt. Save the Children. Retrieved from: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/middle-east/egypt

UNICEF study finds millions of Egyptian children still live in poverty. Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33816#.UkjHokko7IU

Teenage Pregnancy

The topic I chose is mental health of teenage mothers. The reason I chose this topic is because unfortunately some children are at risk. Being a teenager, there are a lot of football games, dances, and other fun activities to do with friends. Babies can be seen as getting in the way of that fun, especially if family isn’t there to support the baby and mother. Motherhood can be a bit overwhelming especially for a teen. Teenage pregnancy can bring some health and mental health risks for the mother and her baby. Teen births are at risk for low birth weight, premature birth, higher rate of low infant mortality, and many other complications. Children that are born to teen mothers are more likely to experience social, emotional, and other problems. There is an increased risk for abuse and neglect. Also, children who are born to teenage mothers are less likely to receive proper nutrition, health care and cognitive & social stimulation.

In the UK research found that, “41.9% of teenage mums had antenatal depression, compared with 35.7% mothers in their early 20s and 18% of women in the group aged 23 to 38.”

I believe that it is good to have awareness and sex courses in high school. Just because we pray and hope teenagers know about safe sex and taking, the right precautions we still need to tell them and stress to them the subject. If we are care providers of young mothers, we should ask them about their feelings, how we can better assist them and her family.

References

(October 2000). Teen Pregnancy Overview. Retrieved from: http://www.healthcommunities.com/teen-pregnancy/children/overview-of-teen-pregnancy.shtml

(November 2008). Young Mothers’ Depression Risk. Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7727540.stm

Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

 I do not have children and I’ve never been in a delivery room, so I had to ask my friend about her experience. My close friend, Mel, had her first baby two weeks ago! Unfortunately she was in the hospital a week, due to high blood pressure, before she was induced. Mel has had high blood pressure since 2008 and she really didn’t start having problems until she was 32 weeks. She was scheduled a Cesarean Section for September 20, but the doctors were concerned about her health as well as the baby’s health. She told me that her doctor and attending nurses were very nice and helpful throughout her stay at the hospital and during her birth. She was induced that morning and was supposed to have a natural birth, but the baby’s heart rate was dropping so they did a C-Section. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy, almost 6lbs. I visited Mel and the baby the next day, he was the smallest baby I’d ever seen. I stayed for about two hours, the nurses constantly came in and checked on her and the baby. From what I could tell they were really concerned about them and their health.

One in 22 women die during pregnancy or childbirth, in Africa. In remote areas of Africa childbirth usually happens at home, with only the mother and grandmother at the expecting mother’s side. If complications occur, the nearest help is hours away, which they’ll probably have to walk during labor.

In South Africa, a large number of women were interviewed stating that they had the following problems in the hospital:

·         Pinched, slapped, handled roughly during labor

·         Nurses ignoring them

·         Discharged improperly

·         While in labor they were refused admission

·         Sent home without pain medicine

·         Sent home after Cesarean section without medication, antibiotics, painkillers, etc.

Mel’s labor/after labor care and the women in Africa and South Africa differ a lot. It’s very heartbreaking to read that women are treated this way during what is expected to be the most joyous part of their lives. I received some of my information of www.theguardian.com and they give different websites to research regarding Africa. The issue had been raised to the United Nations about the treatment of pregnant women in hospitals in South Africa.

References

(2012). Giving Birth- The Most Dangerous Thing an African Woman can do? Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/journalismcompetition/giving-birth-the-most-dangerous-thing-an-african-woman-can-do

(2011). The Shocking Truth about Giving Birth in South Africa. Retrieved from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php