Violence in Childhood

    My mother -in -law experienced violence through most of her childhood and teenage years. Her father was a police officer, a gambler, and an alcoholic. Any money he earned was spent on gambling and drinking, and when he hit his wife or his children, the police would never do anything because they were friends with him. She does not talk about if often, but she has mentioned a few instances when she was a teenager. She was the oldest of four, two brothers and a sister. The brothers eventually followed in their father's footsteps and my mother-in-law tried her best to protect her sister and mother from the violence, once getting hit so hard blocking her mother that she flew across the room. The minute she was able to work, she did, to get out of the house. That was really the only way any of them could cope with the situation. After doing some research, there is a greater risk for a male partner in a relationship (with a drinking problem and a "blue collar" job) to partake in intimate partner violence than for a woman in the same situation (Cunradi, Ames, Duke, 2011).

    I chose to look into Mexico because in doing one of my previous blogs, I remember seeing that there was an increase in alcohol use and violence in Mexico and South American countries in recent years. I found an article, although it's over 10 years old, about some studies that were conducted to see why there was such a connection between alcoholism and violence in Mexican families. This article talked about the oncoming economic issues and religious beliefs, as well as lack of jobs adding stress to families (Natura, Tiburcio, Villatoro, 1997). More recently, E. Mot has discussed the problems with drugs as being the biggest issue with violence in the communities, not just the homes. The community will go more to the people dealing with drugs before the police, because the those are the people that can offer more help. If someone needs protection for their child, they will go to the gangs or drug lords. At the same time, if the drug lords come to someone and offer them money for a service, the economic stress may cause the person to take them up on the service (personal communication, July 22, 2011). One of the main effects of the violence in Mexico is the infant and child mortality rate. Then there are many illnesses and injuries that cause children to suffer physical as well as mental developmental delays. It seems from what I've read, they are still trying to figure out how to solve all of these many problems.

Cunradi, C.B., Ames, G.M., Duke, M. (2011). The relationship of alcohol problems to the risk for undirectional and bidirectional intimate partner violence among a sample of blue-collar couples. Violence and Victims, 26, 147-158.

Natura, G.R., Tiburcio, M.S., Villatoro, J.V. (1997). Marital violence and its relationship to excessive drinking in Mexico. Contemporary Drug Problems, 24, 787-804.

Mental Health Of Families/ Postpartum Depression

     Of all the health topics related to child development, I chose mental health because I feel it effects so many of the other categories. At the same time, it is so broad of a topic, I narrowed it down to postpartum depression. Overall, I feel the mental health of the entire family and father/ husband also greatly effect a child's health and development, but I focused in depression primarily in new mothers while doing my research.

      This topic interests me because my family has a history of mental illness, as do I. I have not had a child yet, and I am anxious/ curious/ hoping that I do not suffer from any postpartum depression or even depression while I am pregnant. I cannot imagine what it would be like to feel like that when I have a new baby that is completely dependent on my well-being. It is often noted that women who have a history of depression or mental illness may suffer from postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis. But other factors include socioeconomic status, poor relationship with a spouse or loved one, and lack of education (Doucet, Dennis, Letourneau, & Blackmore, 2009). I am lucky in that those environmental factors would not be an issue to add to my own health status. 

       I researched some postpartum facts in Lima, Peru. The article was alarming because they contribute the relationship with the "intimate partner" (Gomez-Beloz, A., Williams, M., Sanchez, S., & Lam, N., 2009) to be a large factor in the women suffering from postpartum depression. It is believed that the low economic level of many families in Peru, with added alcohol abuse and work stress, creates violence within families. Women often lose babies due to violence, and therefore live in a state of depression due to the stress of their lives (Gomeaz-Beloz, et al., 2009). 

        It may seem obvious that the mental state of those around you will effect your life, and the same thing with your children. I'm sitting here trying to think of situations I've had in the classroom. I don't know how I would ever know a parent was having a problem, unless it was very obvious. There was a child in another class where the mother admitted she was suffering from postpartum after the birth of her second child, and the extreme attachment that her older child (in our school) had towards her was something that had to be worked out. Personally, I've suggested parents have their kids stay for lunch if they seem tired; I've given moms hugs if they seem frustrated; and I've offered my help if I know there is a particular situation going on (when another parent was hospitalized I offered to watch their son after school). I want to continue doing this in the future, and maybe be on the lookout for other signs that something deeper is going on. But I don't want to jump to conclusions.

        In the future, I am going to stay committed to keeping positive people in my life, people who will not be negative towards anything going on in my life. It seems ridiculous to think, but I can think of so many people who keep negative relationships in their life just because. I'm not just talking about intimate relationships, either. 

Resources:

Doucet, S., Dennis, C.L., Letourneau, N., & Blackmore, E.. (2009). Differentiation and clinical implications of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 38, 269-79. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/.

Gomez-Beloz, A., Williams, M., Sanchez, S., & Lam, N. (2009). Intimate partner violence and risk for depression among postpartum women in Lima, Peru. Violence and Victims, 24, 380-398. Retrieved from  http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/.

       

To Give Birth in Cambodia

I chose to see how people in Cambodia delivered their babies and what their prenatal care was like because I have heard of many charities and organizations that are  focused on helping children there. I don't know a lot about the country in itself, but I had heard that they had a relatively high infant mortality rate, so I was curious to find out more.

After reading from the Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, I was horrified to see that the child survival rate in general is very low. This article states that this is common in countries where there has been civil war and political unrest. Some of the causes are related to education, jobs, healthcare, age of the mothers, marital status, geographic region, access to proper drinking water, and sanitation (Hong, Mishra, & Michael, 2007). It is interesting that these authors combine so many areas of study. It is similar to how we are learning about the many areas of development in early childhood, so all of these factors could very well be what is contributing to the low infant mortality rate and child survival rate.

There are many other contributing factors that could be related to the labor itself. Poor sanitation and access to clean water are just part of it, and something I know we take advantage of in the U.S. Some of these women receive no prenatal care, and even in some cases, where they deliver in hospitals, there are still risk factors. The estimated maternal mortality rate in 2000, was 437 to every 100,000 live births. The children who survive these births are more likely to not make it past age 2 and the ones who survive childhood are less likely to become educated (Koum, Hy, Tiv, Sieng, Obara, Matsui, Fujita, 2004).

My aunt had access to wonderful medical care, some of the best in the country- living near Johns Hopkins; she had clean facilities, prenatal care, a husband who stood by her and encouraged her; a family who supported her and sat with her while she was on bed rest; and family who helped her after she had her son. It seems to be a sad cycle in Cambodia that will not stop unless there is better access to medical care, let alone proper sanitation and clean water.

It is fascinating to see how doctors and other professionals performing these studies look at some of the same developmental factors we are learning about. They are looking at individuals as well as the society as a whole, and looking at how these birthing conditions are affecting the country.

Resources:

Hong, R., Mishra, V., & Michael, J. (2007). Economic disparity and child survival in Cambodia. Asia-          Pacific Journal of Public Health, 35, 37-44. doi:10.1177/10105395070190020701.

Koum, K., Hy, S., Tiv, S., Sieng, T., Obara, H., Matsui, M., Fujita, N. (2004). Characteristics of antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia in the National Maternal and Child Health Center in Cambodia. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 30, 74-79. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/.

The Birth of My Cousin Bryan... at 23 weeks

      I have not had any children of my own, and although I have known many people who have, one experience sticks out in my head the most. Even though I was much younger at the time, I remember it very clearly and knowing what I know now, I cannot imagine a parent having to live through this.
   

My aunt found out she was pregnant in December. She started spotting

shortly thereafter. She was diagnosed with partial placenta previa. 

She was told that it could correct itself, which it did. 

She still continued to experience spotting. Her doctor would put her

on bedrest periodically: she would have to stay home from work

(she worked at a hospital) for a week, but then she 

would be allowed to go back.

One day in May, at 20 weeks, she was at work, and when she went to 

the bathroom, she was bleeding. She went right to

the labor and delivery unit where they examined her and saw

her baby's head coming through the birth canal, but her 

water had not broken yet. He was coming out.

My aunt went right into surgery. They performed a procedure

that none of the doctors had performed at the time and was very risky. 

They gave my aunt an epidural, and slowly inserted a balloon,

while slowly inflating it, to push the baby back into her. If the 

balloon pushed too hard, and broke her water, he would come out. 

The doctors sutured her up, and had her lay and hope that he

would stay inside longer.

On May 26th, at about 23 weeks, my aunt said she had

felt contractions all night, but was afraid to tell anyone. When nurses came

in to check on her, the sheets were drenched in blood. The baby was coming

out and the sutures were breaking. The doctor came in, said they were going

to cut the sutures, and that when they did, he was going to come right out.

They cut, and nothing happened. They handed my aunt and 

uncle funeral pamphlets, how to bury your baby, what to do next.

They were told he would live a few minutes, if at all, that all

they could do would be to wait for him to die. My aunt and uncle talked,

and my uncle made up his mind that this was not going to happen. 

The hospital staff called areas hospitals, all of which said to abort the baby,

let the baby come out and see what happens, but yet he still

wasn't coming.

A hospital literally next door said they would send an ambulance over,

it took 45 minutes. The doctors told my aunt to hold her legs 

together as tight as she could, that's all they could do.

After "flying" to the other hospital (where they didn't realize it

was an emergency situation, they thought it was just a transfer), 

they took her to labor and delivery, did an episiotomy, and he

came right out, at 1 pound, 10.8 ounces. He went down

to 1 pound, 3 ounces, later that day.

He was due September 15th, born May 27th, at almost 24 weeks.

His skin was transparent, his eyes were closed, his ears were little nubs,

they infused surfactant into him, he was on oxygen, he lived in the 

NICU for 5 months.

But... he was completely formed, they performed 2 sonograms of his brain

every day and there was never anything wrong. There were some scarier

days than others in the NICU, but now......

(he's the one on the left)

he's a 20 year old football player, in his sophomore year of college. 

I chose this experience because it stuck with me, everything about it: his birth, my aunt's and uncle's amazing relationship that endured such a hardship, and that how when I look at him now, I forget what his first few months of life were like. I remember being so scared, of everyone being so tense, and being afraid to ask too many questions. I was afraid to even look at him. After our readings this week, I cannot believe there is not one thing wrong with him, let alone the fact that he survived. Yet it still makes me think of how others take advantage of their children's healthy development, or the carelessness of others while they are pregnant. It turns out my aunt had an incompetent cervix, her cervix was too weak to hold the baby. I don't know much about it, but my other aunt had a milder form of it, so I suppose it was something (or is something) in our genes. But my mom had 9 pound babies that were born past their due dates. It just makes me think about how every person is different, every pregnancy is different, and a combination of so many things can effect the development of a baby.