When you look at hunger in other countries in comparison to the US, our hunger is minimal. Nonetheless, if you are a person experiencing hunger that is little consolation. In our Head Start program it is evident each day that there are children who suffer from hunger. They usually are very hungry in the morning, eating extra food we may have. The same is true at lunch. Some of our aide staff also suffer from hunger because they do not have money to purchase groceries. To compensate, most will buy and serve more carbohydrates because that food stays with a person longer. Too much of this kind of food can cause obesity without exercise.
Families and individuals take advantage of food stamps and an outreach program that we have in the community. This program, FISH, gives food, clothing, and items for the home to needy families. People also go to local food pantries in churches or go visit relatives who will feed them. The only fresh fruit that they get is the fruit that is served during the day. When there are workshops and food is left over, as was the case today, they bring ziplock bags and tupperware containers to take food home to their families. Luckily our Head Start program helps families without a medical home to find one. We also refer families without dental insurance to FAMIS, a dental insurance program for families with young children.
Another issue we have discovered this year as we seek to provide our children and families with nutrition education is the lack of a grocery store in the poorest section of Williamsburg. The only stores available are convenience stores which charge higher fees and contain a great deal of food that is not healthy for them. Many of the residents in this area of town do not have transportation either. The nearest grocery store is 5 miles away. They can take a bus, but the groceries they would be able to carry wouldn't be groceries enough for the week. Depending on the length of the bus ride, they would not want to buy foods that need to be refrigerated or frozen.
I chose to study hunger in India because recently a community group had a Stop Hunger Now campaign. We raised enough money to feed 15,000 people a meal. In other countries around the world a meal costs as little as 25 cents to make. That is amazing considering a happy meal is probably about 5 dollars here in the US.
There is a great deal of hunger in India. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is working to improve conditions there. The issues that are faced there include diet quality, illness, appropriate health care, and poor sewage. Even before a child is born, women who become pregnant can be malnourished, especially if they are young. When the child is born, the mother is unable to nurse because she does not even have enough nourishment for herself. The health care workers in India are working to educate women about good nutrition during pregnancy and after birth as well. As we discussed earlier, the water quality is not good in this country either which causes a great deal of illness and death.
The government is slow to move in getting education and food necessary for the children to survive. People do not have the energy to pursue making changes because all of their energy is used in finding drinkable water and good food sources. There are also not enough workers to help educate people about good nutrition.
It is unfortunate that any people have to go hungry, especially considering how many restaurants and grocery stores throw away food each day. There are also storehouses of food in the US that could be used to help. Of course, just giving people food does not help the problem overall. The families must learn to grow their own food so that they know it is good. Because of the poor sewage conditions that might not be able to happen.
I know I should not complain about being hungry. I can't even imagine what true hunger is. I can and do try to help by donating to our local food bank, working there when I can, and helping to feed people around the world.
Berger, K. (2009). The Developing Person Through Childhood, fifth edition.New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.
Menon, P., Raabe, K. & Bhaskar, A. (2009, July) Biological, Programmatic, and Sociopolitical Dimensions
of Child Undernutrition in Three States in India. IDS Bulletin, vol. 40(4) 60-69. Retrieved from
Academic Search Complete/Premier at Walden University Library.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Breastfeeding in the U.S. and in Africa
Breastfeeding is a very intimate bonding of mother and child. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences for me as a mom. Even though it has 25 years since I have breastfed, It seems as though it was yesterday. Having the opportunity to hold my baby close, caress them, smell them was so very special. I also wanted to provide them with as many antibodies for fighting infection as possible. Since I taught 9 years before I had children, I had been exposed to many infections and diseases. I was grateful that I was able to offer this for my children. I know that not all mothers can or want to do it. It is definitely a choice.
In contrast, in Rwanda, Africa, it is expected that women will breastfeed their children. One of the reasons for this is the lack of clean drinking water which is needed to mix the dry formula. Some mothers have a dilemma with breastfeeding because they are infected with the HIV virus. If they breastfeed, there is a good possibility that the virus will be transferred to the baby. If mothers are able to use formula, many babies die in infancy because of diarrheal illnesses. Fortunately, scientists are giving the mothers medications during pregnancy to help prevent the spread of the disease. They are now trying to continue the medications after birth to both mother and baby to see if it increases the protection of HIV. Early indications are that it does.
I feel for these mothers, especially the ones with HIV. Choosing the formula has a high incidence of death. Breastfeeding often leads to transference of the HIV virus. Either way death of a child is the option. It is heartbreaking to think about the decisions they have to make.
We are very fortunate in the United States to have so many choices because of all of the resources that we have at our fingertips. Just from the two weeks of class that we have had, I know that as we study future topics, it will be important to get a global perspective of each one. There may be options that we have not explored in the U.S. that need to be. As in my topic this week, there may be complications that I need to be sensitive to as I work with families in my program. Doing research on different cultures will be important in order to meet the needs of and provide resources for the children and their families.
Slater, Mackenzie; Stringer, Elizabeth M.; Stringer, Jeffrey, S.A. (2010, Feb 1). Breastfeeding in HIV-Positive Women: What can be recommended?. Pediatric Drugs, vol.12(1) pp. 1-9. Retrieved from Academic Research Complete at Walden University Library.
In contrast, in Rwanda, Africa, it is expected that women will breastfeed their children. One of the reasons for this is the lack of clean drinking water which is needed to mix the dry formula. Some mothers have a dilemma with breastfeeding because they are infected with the HIV virus. If they breastfeed, there is a good possibility that the virus will be transferred to the baby. If mothers are able to use formula, many babies die in infancy because of diarrheal illnesses. Fortunately, scientists are giving the mothers medications during pregnancy to help prevent the spread of the disease. They are now trying to continue the medications after birth to both mother and baby to see if it increases the protection of HIV. Early indications are that it does.
I feel for these mothers, especially the ones with HIV. Choosing the formula has a high incidence of death. Breastfeeding often leads to transference of the HIV virus. Either way death of a child is the option. It is heartbreaking to think about the decisions they have to make.
We are very fortunate in the United States to have so many choices because of all of the resources that we have at our fingertips. Just from the two weeks of class that we have had, I know that as we study future topics, it will be important to get a global perspective of each one. There may be options that we have not explored in the U.S. that need to be. As in my topic this week, there may be complications that I need to be sensitive to as I work with families in my program. Doing research on different cultures will be important in order to meet the needs of and provide resources for the children and their families.
Slater, Mackenzie; Stringer, Elizabeth M.; Stringer, Jeffrey, S.A. (2010, Feb 1). Breastfeeding in HIV-Positive Women: What can be recommended?. Pediatric Drugs, vol.12(1) pp. 1-9. Retrieved from Academic Research Complete at Walden University Library.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Birthing stories
The birth of our first child, Thomas, was very interesting. My husband and I were living in Atlanta, Georgia at the time. My due date was also our moving day back to Virginia. The obstetricians in both states said, "No Way!" I flew to Virginia on May 27, and the baby was due on June 20. I was staying with my parents in Virginia when on June 2 at 2:30 a.m., my water broke. I went down to tell my mom and she said, "We'll call the doctor in the morning." I let her know that we needed to go to the hospital. She was concerned because she hadn't even started to read the coaching book. I called my husband who was still in Atlanta. He had been out with friends of ours and had gone to bed only an hour earlier. He said, "Call a plumber in the morning and shut off the water valve." I explained that the baby was coming. We arrived at the hospital about 4:30 a.m. The baby was breech so I had to have a c-section. This was disappointing to me because I was hoping to have natural childbirth. Thomas was born at 6:30 a.m that morning. Unfortunately, my husband was not able to be in the delivery room because Delta was not ready when he was.
My husband, Bob was able to spend almost a week with us before he had to go back to Atlanta. I was glad to have him there because I suffered with some postpartum depression. As I look back on it, I think it was because I was unable to give birth naturally. At first, Thomas would not latch onto my breast either. I know now that it is normal. Thomas and I spent the next two weeks at my mom's home. Then my husband moved up on the 20th. It is a great birth story, and I tell it to my son every year on his birthday.
I was fortunate to be able to participate in the birth of his daughter, Elizabeth, two years ago. His wife, Misty, had a natural birth with no stitches, and Elizabeth was 9 lbs. 15 oz.!!! That was amazing to me. Both sets of grandparents and Thomas were there for the birth. Her brother and sister came up later as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. What a joyous celebration!
I chose to read about childbirth in Guatemala because we have friends living there and I wanted to view birth from a totally different perspective. Women giving birth are highly revered there. In rural areas women go to birthing centers if one is available and they have transportation there. Otherwise they give birth at home. Before the baby is born, whenever people gather for a meal, the pregnant woman is invited to eat first. As the pregnant woman works in the home, she talks to the baby about the jobs that she is doing so that the baby will be comfortable in their surroundings when they enter the world. She wears a necklace that explains her menstrual cycle. The husbands make decisions about when the mother will go to the doctor. When it is time for the baby to be born, the mother can choose a birthing pool, a birthing stool or she can just squat. Many communities have a trained mid-wife to help with the birth. The father and the children are not allowed in the room where the birth will take place. The father buries the umbilical cord in the yard. After the baby is born, their hands and feet are bound together. The children cannot see their sibling for 8 days.
The mortality rate is very high because a hospital is too far away or the family does not have transportation to the hospital. Things are improving because more and more people in the village are being trained as mid-wives. The only higher mortality rate in the Latino-Caribbean countries is in Haiti.
Maderazo, Jennifer W. (2007, October 25). Giving Birth in Rural Guatemala. Retrieved from vivirlatino.com/2007/10/25/giving-birth-in-rural-guatemala.php
WIN News. (2002, Spring). Guatemala: Too many women die in childbirth. WIN News. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2872/is_2_28/ai_86049667/?tag=content;col1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjcQYL7Sb0Nov 27, 2010 - 9 min - Uploaded by eyebearah
This is a video project for nursing school. It depicts the pregnancy and birthing practices of the indigenous women
 |
| Thomas at 2 |
My husband, Bob was able to spend almost a week with us before he had to go back to Atlanta. I was glad to have him there because I suffered with some postpartum depression. As I look back on it, I think it was because I was unable to give birth naturally. At first, Thomas would not latch onto my breast either. I know now that it is normal. Thomas and I spent the next two weeks at my mom's home. Then my husband moved up on the 20th. It is a great birth story, and I tell it to my son every year on his birthday.
 |
| Elizabeth at 2 |
I was fortunate to be able to participate in the birth of his daughter, Elizabeth, two years ago. His wife, Misty, had a natural birth with no stitches, and Elizabeth was 9 lbs. 15 oz.!!! That was amazing to me. Both sets of grandparents and Thomas were there for the birth. Her brother and sister came up later as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. What a joyous celebration!
I chose to read about childbirth in Guatemala because we have friends living there and I wanted to view birth from a totally different perspective. Women giving birth are highly revered there. In rural areas women go to birthing centers if one is available and they have transportation there. Otherwise they give birth at home. Before the baby is born, whenever people gather for a meal, the pregnant woman is invited to eat first. As the pregnant woman works in the home, she talks to the baby about the jobs that she is doing so that the baby will be comfortable in their surroundings when they enter the world. She wears a necklace that explains her menstrual cycle. The husbands make decisions about when the mother will go to the doctor. When it is time for the baby to be born, the mother can choose a birthing pool, a birthing stool or she can just squat. Many communities have a trained mid-wife to help with the birth. The father and the children are not allowed in the room where the birth will take place. The father buries the umbilical cord in the yard. After the baby is born, their hands and feet are bound together. The children cannot see their sibling for 8 days.
The mortality rate is very high because a hospital is too far away or the family does not have transportation to the hospital. Things are improving because more and more people in the village are being trained as mid-wives. The only higher mortality rate in the Latino-Caribbean countries is in Haiti.
Maderazo, Jennifer W. (2007, October 25). Giving Birth in Rural Guatemala. Retrieved from vivirlatino.com/2007/10/25/giving-birth-in-rural-guatemala.php
WIN News. (2002, Spring). Guatemala: Too many women die in childbirth. WIN News. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2872/is_2_28/ai_86049667/?tag=content;col1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjcQYL7Sb0Nov 27, 2010 - 9 min - Uploaded by eyebearah
This is a video project for nursing school. It depicts the pregnancy and birthing practices of the indigenous women
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