In our readings we learned the importance of fat for brain development and that good nutrition and good health are directly related. As we learn about the development of children, the underlying factor is that mother and baby/child maintain a “healthy” diet resulting in the “norms“ for development such as those used on growth charts. During our last course we learned how the brain reacts to malnutrition. An article on nutrition by The World Bank reiterated the brain’s reaction: In the area of cognitive development, when there isn’t enough food, the body has to make a decision about how to invest the limited foodstuffs available. Survival comes first. Growth comes second. Learning comes last (The World Bank Group, 2011).
Malnutrition or under nutrition indicates a lack of some or all nutritional elements such as protein and vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iron and iodine (World Hunger Education Service, 2011). Under nutrition impairs behavioral development causing delays in physical growth and motor development. The effects on cognitive development result in lower IQ’s by 15 points (severely malnutrition). Children experience a greater degree of behavioral problems and deficient social skills, decreased attention, deficient learning, and lower educational achievement (The World Bank Group, 2011). Children are the most visible victims of under nutrition. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year. Under nutrition magnifies the effect of every disease, including measles and malaria (World Hunger Education Service, 2011).
Of the 925 million hungry people in 2010, 239 million live in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Hunger Education Service, 2011). One in every three African children born suffers from malnutrition. More than half a million African children suffer from vitamin A deficiency, which cripples young immune systems. Well over half of sub-Saharan children under five do not have enough iron to support a healthy lifestyle. (Health of African Children). Poverty is the principle cause of hunger. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people in extreme poverty has increased (World Hunger Education Service, 2011).
It appears that poverty, hunger, economic systems and politics are all a part of the cause of under nutrition. Each effects the other in ways that seems to be a cycle. Poverty causes hunger, hunger causes poverty. Economic systems and politics are viewed as means to over come poverty, economic systems and politics perpetuate poverty. There are many reasons for malnutrition. In developing countries the effect of HIV/AIDS can not be ignored as a contributing factor. For me, more important that analyzing the cause of malnutrition is knowing interventions can be effective, especially early in development. Strong evidence suggests that the earlier children begin benefiting from nutrition interventions the greater the improvement on behavioral development. Long-term studies indicate that nutrition interventions aimed at preschool children in the first few years of life lead to measurable improvements in adolescence and adulthood (The World Bank Group, 2011).
I believe education is a key element in helping children living in poverty without enough to eat. Awareness and avenues to provide assistance are very important. As a future undergraduate educator I am cognizant of the importance of imparting knowledge about world hunger, the causes and effects and the importance of advocating for change.
References:
Early Child Development - Nutrition, The World Bank Group, 2011. Retrieved from: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXXTCY/EXTECD/0,,contentM…
2011 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics, World hunger Education Service, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/worl%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
Health of African Children. Retrieved from: http://senweb.lr.kl2.nj.us/Library/class%20prjects/Stapleford/Children45/child%20health%20lauren.htm
Your post was so interesting, you brought up several points that I was not aware of when it comes to nutrition/malnutrition. Something that really stood out for me is when you said "poverty causes hunger, hunger causes poverty," and how it is a cycle.
ReplyDeleteAbby
Joey,
ReplyDeleteMalnutrition continues to be a big problem in the U.S. as well as all over the world. The issues that the children face in Africa is just awful. To see that one in three children are malnourished in Africa is startling. That means that one in every 3 children will face some kind of a deficiency before even being born. It's so hard to be healthy as it is, without any kind of a deficiency. How sad for them. Have you found any kind of relief charities that you could publicize on your blog?
Trish,
ReplyDeleteUnicef is very involved. Elementary schools used to collect money for Unicef, don't know if they still do. Unisef is an excellent organization.
Joey