Developmental psychology/Chapter 3/Surviving and Thriving
Although in developed countries this isn't too much to worry about, in undeveloped lands many infants die. This used to be an issue in the US, but we've managed to reduce it drastically (from 1/7 dying to 1/30 [2017]). Also, the rate of children per woman have decreased (from 4.96 births to 2.52 births [2017]). The main reasons as to why the world's fertility rate is half the fertility rate of 1950 is because of infant survival and maternal education. Educated women have less children vs. uneducated women, thereby increasing the economy and better schools/health care.
One syndrome used to plague the world pre-1990s (due to a lack of maternal education): sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). A seemingly healthy baby never wakes up from their sleep (which is why it's alternatively known as crib death). In a study in Australia by Dr. Susan Beal (1988), Beal found that these pointers reduced the chances of SIDS:
- Feeding babies with breast milk
- Babies sleeping on their back
- Having a high birthweight
- No exposure to smoking
Immunization also is a leading preventor of infant mortality. Immunization is the process by which the body's immune system produces antibodies that fight against a particular disease. This may be accomplished by either natural means (getting the disease) or by injections (vaccines). This is why diseases such as smallpox, measles, chickenpox, polio and whooping cough no longer are a major threat to our society - although they can reappear at any given time. This happened in Nigeria in 2005, where thousands of children were sickened with polio due to ignorance and the civil war. This halted the immunization of thousands of kids, resulting in a polio outbreak. Thankfully, polio disappeared by the mid 2010s after public health workers and local leaders fought back.
Immunization also protects the surrounding community who are unable to be vaccinated. This includes people who are HIV-positive, very old or very young (infants under 3 months) and who are undergoing chemotherapy. If 90% of the community is immunized from a disease, then normally no one dies from it. Some people choose not to get vaccinated, citing religious reasons, tinfoil conspiracies or information which is false (vaccines lead to autism, ex).
Better nutrition is also fundamental in the decreasement of child fatality rates. Clean water is also a component of improved nutrition. About half of childhood deaths have resulted indirectly or directly from malnutrition. Indirectly, malnutration turns childhood diseases fatal (such as diarrhea). Directly, malnutrition can cause marasmus (body tissue goes away leading to energy deficiency) and kwashiorkor (growth is slowed, build up of liquid in the body's tissues [known as edema]). Protein-calorie malnutrition is when the body is not consuming enough food. This affects 1/3 of children in developing nations. Originally, stunting (which is the result of protein-calorie malnutrition) was thought to be entirely genetic, but most of these cases are actually a result of poor nutrition. Wasting is when a child is 3+ standard deviations below the avg. weight and height, which may lead to lower IQ later on if the child is to survive. Most nations in Eastern Austria, Latin America and Europe has seen decreasing rates of wasting, but Africa has seen an increase.
What's the best defense against malnutrition? Breastfeeding
It's been this way for centuries. Research shows that breast milk contains fats and sugars that are easily digestable for babies. Breastmilk also contains an important nutrient known as colostrum, containing a number of bioactive compounds that are crucial for an infant's development. Mothers should be well-nourished and hydrated in order to give the best milk to their babies, staying away from drugs.
So, what are some steps to take to prevent malnutrition for my infant during development?
- Prenatal nutrition
- Breastfeeding
- Supplemental iron and Vitamin A
Treatment for malnutrition?
- Highly nutritious formula [fortified peanut butter]
- Antibiotics