Friday, January 28, 2011

Stressor of Isolation

Isolation is the act of isolating something; setting something apart from others. This is definitely very traumatic and stressful for a child. My best friend adopted two girls when the girls where 10months and 5years old, however, the children have grown to be 10 and 15 years old now. The 15 year old, who I will call Jane has recently suffered from isolation at school from peers and other students. Jane is a very sweet and caring young lady that just hasn’t blossomed into a flirtatious teenage girl who isn’t chasing boys, who someone might refer to her as a “tomboy”. She has a father who is very involved in her life where he takes her fishing, hunting and four wheel riding, so she isn’t the prissy type at all. However, a group of students at school has started a rumor that she is gay and has isolated her completely. As she would walk down the halls of her high school she would be called names and teased.  This has been going since the beginning of school which was August. However, he has gradually gotten worse and it was affecting Jane’s academic status. Her mother would call me often and she would be in tears because her daughter was suffering and there was nothing she could do but pray.  It had even gotten so bad that the mother had to take Jane to counseling three times a month which was very costly.  As the problem continued the principal called my friends and asked her a personal question, “Can you explain Jane and Judy’s relationship?” In other words the principal was insinuating that her daughter was gay and was bringing all of this on herself.  Well in my opinion it doesn’t matter if she was gay, that doesn’t give the right to condone other children being mean to others and isolating them. So this was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and the mother withdrew her from school and put her in the school system I currently work in. This took place last Monday, so Jane has completed two full weeks at her school and has been so happy since her move.  Her mother states that Jane comes home happy everyday and talks about how friendly her classmates are.  It’s so amazing how her own well being has changed since she has been removed from the environment of isolation.
Being in this situation affected this child’s entire well being from her biosocial, cognitive and psychosocial development. She was in an environment where she wasn’t happy and it was affecting her cognitive development and academic status. She was also detrimental to her social development and self esteem

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Child Development and Public Health

I choose to research and discuss the topic of immunization.  I choose this topic for several reasons, one of which is because working with young children and the increased discussions over whether immunizations where the cause of increase cases of autism and because my son had a severe allergic reaction to his three year old immunization. Therefore, I found this topic and this research to have a personal meaning for me.
According to the CDC immunization and vaccinations has side effects from mild to severe.  Also according to the CDC getting diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis disease is much riskier than getting DTaP vaccine. Side effects range from fever and redness around the vaccination site to rare but severe side effects such as seizures, comma and permanent brain damage.  According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, one in 91 American children has an autism spectrum disorder. Thirty years ago, it was one in 2,500. Rates of other neurological and immunological disorders affecting children have skyrocketed as well. Today, learning disabilities affect approximately one in six kids, and asthma one in nine.
I choose the research immunization in Mexico and according to my readings a survey/research was completed in 1990 and Mexico’s mortality rate was 46 per 1,000 live births and its progress in reducing the mortality rate to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2004 has been well-documented with increased immunization. However, prior to researching this topic I would have figured that Mexico’s mortality would be more, so this was an eye opening fact.
References:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

Friday, January 7, 2011

Birth Experience

I have chosen to share my personal birthing experience of my two sons. My first son was born some nearly 15 years ago, where I experienced 36 hours of painful labor pains before he graced us with his appearance. He weight 8pounds 4ounces and 22 inches long, he was a very big but healthy baby. My second son was born some 8 1/2 years later and it was very different. I was induced one morning due to several medical issues which was pregnancy related, blood pressure an low amniotic fluid. He was born after only eight hours of labor which much less than my first birth. He as only 6pounds and 4ounces and 20inches long, he was definitely not as large as my first baby either.  This baby developed serious allergies and asthma and has to carry epipen around. Comparing my two sons, I feel as though my second son has to struggle more in school and I think it has to do with some of the health issues I experienced during pregnancy and his allergies.

I choose to discuss my personal birthing experiences because it was such a joyous time in mine and my husbands life and it is such a joy to bring a life into this world. Its a true blessing!

I did have epidurals with both of my sons, however, with the first one I had to suffer just about to the end til i was given the shot and with the second one it relieved pain on one side of my body and I could feel everything on the other side. With this being said, I'm not as strong as the women of Africa, they have no medication at all to relieve the pain of child birth.