Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

War and its effect on children is a topic military childcare facilities contend with daily, as while we are not in direct combat, a member of our immediate community is either deployed to a combat zone, recently returned from a combat zone, or anticipating their turn. It is almost impossible to avoid exposing military children to the stress associated with war and combat, as it is discussed between adults, reported on TV, and published in newspapers. War violates every right of the child. Everybody has a role to play to stop these violations. We cannot let war continue to destroy childhood.” (Karwal, 2008). The devastation is not limited to children in immediate combat areas; research has proven that increases in suicide, mental health problems, alcohol abuse and divorce are all symptoms experience by adults connected with the military. In turn the additional problems encountered by adults, trickles down to children of military families, and compiled with the child’s own stress, increased levels of anxiety and behavioral issues have been associated with military children. According to the article, Troops Kids Feel War Tolls, “Six out of 10 U.S. military parents told researchers their children have increased levels of fear and anxiety when a parent is sent to war, according to a survey of more than 13,000 military spouses of active-duty service members (Zoroya, 2009) In large, this is associated with the anxiety of a parent not returning. Patricia Lester, a UCLA psychiatry professor claims, "When the parent puts on the uniform," she says, "The child becomes distressed that they're not going to be coming back." (Zoroya, 2009)
The impact on child development is astronomical, as parents can deploy when children are newborns. Research has proven that lack of bonding early in life as a profound effect on the ability to form relationships later in life. In addition, the stress and anxiety of fearing for a parent can cause emotional problems. According to our text,

Congress is spending more than $700 million on programs for military families in the current supplemental bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 15% more than the Pentagon requested. Programs targeting the problem include:
• Offering $6,000 to military spouses to pay for education, training and licensing or credentialing for careers that can be easily re-established should the family move to a different military post. (War Child International, 2007)
• Dissemination of more than 1 million bilingual Sesame Street kits that include Elmo videos designed to help children ages 3-5 cope with deployment and family changes. Also a video will be released later this year addressing the emotional trauma of losing a parent, Thompson says.
• Distribution of more than 200,000 copies of a graphic novel aimed at military families titled Coming Home, which looks at problems family face when the service members come home.
• The Pentagon's creation of child and youth behavioral health specialists who work with families and educators to identify and help struggling children and families. The program has more than 300 full-time and temporary positions and is expanding.
• Offering free YMCA memberships to primarily families of deployed National Guard members and reservists. The program, which began last October, has provided nearly 26,000 memberships.
• Expanding teams of specially trained family counselors that the Pentagon provides to state military family program directors. " (Zoroya, 2009)

In comparison to the efforts taken by the US Military to help their children affected, there are several international organizations such as UNICEF and War Child, which are designed to help children worldwide, affected by war. The War Child organization, stationed in both Holland and Canada, “...strives for the healthy mental development of children who have lived through war, so that they can contribute to a peaceful future. War Child specializes in providing psychosocial assistance to children in former war zones, using creative methods” (War Child International, 2007) according to their mission statement. UNICEF, states, that its “...mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential” (Conventions on the Rights of the Child, 2008)

Conventions on the Rights of the Child. (2008, August 26). Retrieved November 23, 2010, from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30160.html

Karwal, R. (2008, November 24). Effects of war in focus on the Universal Day of the Child. Retrieved November 23, 2010, from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_46494.html

War Child International. (2007). War Child Holland. Retrieved November 23, 2010, from War Child International: http://www.warchild.org/projects/WC_Holland/wc_holland.html

Zoroya, G. (2009, June 25). Troops Kids Feel War Toll. Retrieved November 23, 2010, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-06-24-military-kids_N.htm

Child Development and Public Health

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has no personal meaning to me, as there has not been a death from SIDS in my immediate family or circle of friends. However, the birth of my granddaughter has sparked an interest, as my daughter has been struggling with best sleeping arraignments for fear of SIDS. The Mayo Clinic defines SIDS as,” …the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby. For parents, it's a devastating and shocking childhood illness — there's no warning and there's no definitive cause” (Mayo Clinic, 2009). SIDS is the leading cause of death for infants in the first year of life, with 50 deaths per 100,000 births in the US, and remains a constant area of research. While current research has not identified the causes of SIDS, it has identified several possible risk factors in infants, as well as concluded that the health of the mother during pregnancy can also increase the risk for SIDS.
Risk factors
• Male
• Between 1 month and 6 months of age
• Premature or of low birth weight
• Black, American Indian or Native Alaskan
• Placed to sleep on their stomachs Cultural differences in child care practices — such as whether babies are placed to sleep on their backs — may be a factor.
• Born to mothers who smoke or use drugs
• Exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.
• Born during the fall or winter months
• Overheated
• Recently recovered from an upper respiratory infection
• Siblings of a baby who died of SIDS (Mayo Clinic, 2009)

Just as researchers have identified risk factors that increase the chances of SIDS, they have also identified several precautionary measures, to reduce risk.
• Put your baby to sleep on his or her back
• Be sure your baby is placed to sleep on his or her back when in the care of others
• Don't smoke
• Select bedding carefully
• Place your baby to sleep in a crib or bassinet — not in your bed
• Keep your baby nearby
• Consider breast-feeding. Offer a pacifier
• Moderate room temperature (Mayo Clinic, 2009)
•
In researching SIDS in other countries, I was surprised to find that the number of SIDS death was much lower in southern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America because co-sleeping is practiced. Co-sleeping takes on many forms from sharing a form sharing a bed with parents to sharing a family sleeping area. According to the article, Co-sleeping Around the World by James J. McKenna Ph.D, “Most cultures that routinely practice co-sleeping, in any form, have very rare instances of SIDS” (McKenna).
I found this information extremely interesting and valuable to my future work. Working with the military, we service a vast variety of cultures, as well as new parents. This information not only helped me to understand other cultural practices, but will help me in assisting new parents.

Mayo Clinic. (2009, June 13). Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Retrieved November 12, 2010, from MayoClinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/DS00145

McKenna, J. J. (n.d.). Cosleeping Around The World. Retrieved November 12, 2010, from The Natural Child Project: http://www.naturalchild.org/james_mckenna/cosleeping_world.html

sleep-baby-sleep.com. (n.d.). SIDS Statistics. Retrieved November 12, 2010, from sleep-baby-sleep.com: http://www.sleep-baby-sleep.com/SIDS/statistics.htm

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

While the birth of my daughter was relatively easy and without major complication, my daughter, who recently gave birth to my first grandchild, was not as fortunate. Two weeks before the due date, my granddaughter turned in the womb and became breech. The fetal heart rate indicated need for concern and my daughter was immediately admitted for delivery, which increased her blood pressure and added additional concern for the baby. After performing an ultra sound and making an attempt to turn the baby, the heart rate dropped rapidly, and my daughter was rushed for an emergency C Section, as low heart rate can cause long term complications, including brain damage. I remember the amount of stress and anxiety we all felt when the baby became distressed, and how grateful I was for the immediate medical attention, as I was several thousand miles away and awaiting the next available flight. I chose this example, because it brings to the forefront the importance of medical intervention and quality hospital care.

In such countries as Afghanistan, the majority of births occur at home as hospital and clinic care is rare. According to the article Bamyan Maternity Waiting Home: A Safe Place to give Birth in Afghanistan, which quotes Peter Crowley, a UNICEF representative in Afghanistan “Every 30 minutes an Afghan woman dies from pregnancy of childbirth-related causes – giving Afghanistan one of world’s highest rates of maternal death” (UNICEF, 2010). Additionally, women in countries such as Afghanistan, often suffer from lack of proper nutrition and health care. The consequences of poverty were substantiated by Sandra Smidt in her book The Developing Child in the 21st Century, who states, “Pregnant woman living in developing countries without clean water, sanitation, pre-natal care or enough food, may suffer miscarriage, premature, or low birth weight infants “(Smidt, 2006). In addition, lack of immediate medical intervention can have profound effect on a child’s future development, as permanent long term complications can occur.


UNICEF. (2010, July 10). Afghanistan: Bamyan maternity waiting home: A safe place to give birth in Afghanistan. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from UNICEF: Unite for Children: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/afghanistan_54272.html