Public Health Measures that Impact Children’s Development all Over the World

I believe a public health concern that impact children’s development all over this world is the mental health of mothers, fathers, and families in general. In child development, we are great at advocating for children. We are also aware that the development of the child whether physical, emotional, and social is greatly influence by the social environment and healthy atmosphere she/he lives in. Research also tells us that “mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are very common during pregnancy and after childbirth in all parts of the world. One in three to one in five women in developing countries, and about one in ten in developed countries, have a significant mental health problem during pregnancy and after childbirth.” (World Health Organization, 2008). However, “mental illnesses including anxiety disorders and depression are common and under-treated in many developed and developing countries” (Associated Press, 2004). This is particularly alarming considering how maternal/caregiver’s mental health problems affect children. As far as babies living in low income families are concerned, maternal mental health is associated with “low birth weight, reduced breast-feeding, hampered growth, severe malnutrition, increased episodes of diarrhea and lower compliance with immunization schedules.” (Maternal Mental Health and Child Health and Development in Low Income Countries, 2008). And, according to the World Health Organization:

1.     Infants of chronically depressed mothers show less sociability with strangers, fewer facial expressions, smile less, cry more, and are more irritable than infants of normal mothers.

2.     Children of chronically depressed mothers do not perform as well on thinking and intelligence tests at 18 months of age and this is especially true for boy babies’ speech development.

3.     Children of depressed mothers are also more distractible, less playful and less social up to age 5. (World Health Organization, 2011).

Therefore, we know from research, and from experience that the mental health of mothers, fathers, and families in general affect children’s development in many ways. In addition, many of the behavioral problems we observe in children are closely related to the quality of care they receive. In our efforts to improve children’s lives, governments and organizations, leaders, and all of us need to make a concerted effort to reach out to those families undergoing hardships, mental health issues, depression, psychosis, anxiety, alcohol, and other drugs among others. The resources needed to support mental health services can be diverse and costly. Therefore, it is bound to be challenging, but for the well-being of children around the world, it is worth the effort. Mental health and breastfeeding are two public health concerns that I am are very interested in, and I would like to actively be involved in the near future.

For more information on Mental Health and its impact on child development, review my references.

References

Associated Press. (2004). Global study finds mental illness widespread, Anxiety, depression are common and often untreated . AP Associated Press .

(2008). Maternal Mental Health and Child Health and Development in Low Income Countries. Geneva: WHO Library.

World Health Organization. (2008). Improving Maternal Mental Health. Retrieved September 14, 2011, from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/Perinatal_depression_mmh_final.pdf

World Health Organization. (2011). Maternal Mental Health & Child Health and Development. Retrieved September 12, 2011, from Maternal Mental: http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/MaternalMH/en/index.html