Child Development and Public Health

I chose malnutrition because it is a chronic issue that affects one third of the children around the world (Berger, 2012, p. 154).  Malnutrition is categorized as protein-calorie malnutrition that occurs when a person doesn't consume sufficient food to sustain normal growth and development (Berger, 2012, p. 154).   Its sad to know that so many children in the world are malnourished and don't receive enough food.  In any culture or country all children and families should have enough food to eat but sadly this is not the case.  Malnutrition can cause stunting which is being short do to their chronic malnutrition keeping them from growing; which hits the poorest nations in the world (Berger, 2012, p. 154).  Another severe case of malnutrition for these children is wasting which is when children with severe underweight at their age and height (Berger, 2012, p. 154).  Malnutrition is a problem in all countries, even the United States.  I work for a Early Head Start Program and many of the children come from low or poor income families and its sad to see how much food they intake throughout their day at school.  Some children only receive a decent meal at school that supplies the children with breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.  A few children ask for many helpings after their first helping because some families are in situations were they can't offer their children a nutritional meal.  Some families don't have jobs, some are homeless, and others put their money to more important things like prescriptions for ADHD, or bipolar, or any other reasoning to take a prescription for.  As a professional I support the families by letting them know of different places that offers meals and food to them for free.  Many of these places are food pantries and food kitchens that serve food to families.  To help prevent and support a turn around of malnutrition is to education families about the importance of nutrition and the causes and effect of malnutrition on young children and their future.

After doing some research about malnutrition I found that its still a extreme problem in the United Kingdom (Kids Company).  The article shared the 4 million children in low income households while half of those children are living in poverty (Kids Company).  I learned a new term from this article called food insecurity which is a term to describe the limited availability of nutritional adequate and safe food or uncertain ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways (Kids Company).  It suggested that some children receive quality good food while at other times they receive poor quality food (Kids Company).  I truly feel bad that children in any country have to deal with malnutrition and deal with the issues malnutrition can cause for their development.  

I feel that I can help in some way to get this information out into the world for others to know how serious this topic is around the world.  I would want to find different ways to support these families and children to get the education they need to overcome malnutrition in their owns and life.  As a professional I would like to learn from these families and children what their ideas and suggestions would be to get this topic out into the open for discussion.  I would like them to share their stories for others to learn from and to help prevent malnutrition in our homes in the world.  No child or family member should know the effects of malnutrition and should be able to receive and have a well balanced nutritional diet at all times.

References:

Berger, K. S. (2012). The First Two Years: Biosocial Development. In J. Bayne (Ed.), The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). (pp. 127-159)  New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Kids Company.  The Impact of Malnutrition on Children's Physical and Mental Development. Retrieved on May 17, 2014,

http://www.kidscoplatepledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/platepledge-the-impact-of-nutrition.pdf