Malnutrition

In certain African countries, Libya for example, a mother must have five children to assure that one reaches the age of fifteen. In Northeast Brazil, 48 percent do not survive the first year of life; by the age of four, 63 percent have succumbed. In parts of Southeast Asia, 40 percent of the children die of disease in their first four years. This is a proportion of deaths not reached in the United States until the age of sixty (Berg, 1967).  

These statistics were devastating! Yet, what bothered me the most is that 45 years later the statistics hasn't had a drastic change.

In the United States, though nutritional foods are available in abundance, we still opt to eat foods that no good for us. Though developing nations are malnourished due to a lack of nutrition, our country suffers from malnutrition due to..... empty calories?

References

Berg, A. D. (1967). MALNUTRITION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Foreign Affairs, 46(1), 126-136.

The Birthing Experience of Sub-Saharan Africa.....

Teenage mothers who have tried to deliver their own babies at home often fail, resulting in a baby being lodged inside of them where most eventually die due to a loss oxygen and poor blood circulation.    Hundreds of thousands of girls have fistulas and the damage is often irreversible. In comparison with birthing in the United States, Sub-Saharan African countries have quite a long way to go in the advancement of medicine and medical treatment.

I never even considered trying to deliver my own baby. There was medical care provided each step of the way and as a result, I was able to be proactive in promoting good health in my baby. I am thankful for the many obstetricians that I had to choose from. I am blessed that I was afforded the opportunity to have my baby in an sterilized environment, reducing the chance of my baby being exposed to harmful bacteria and other hazardous risks.

After reading several articles about birthing in Sub-Saharan Africa, I can truly appreciate the United States and accessible healthcare, even as affordable healthcare is such a hot button topic.

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

I can remember it like it was yesterday. At 6:30 a.m. on 03/30/2005, I was rushed to the hospital. The baby was on their way. I endured a difficult labor from 7:00 a.m. on 03/30/05 until I had to have an emergency C-section at 3:30 a.m. the next day......Alas, Imani was delivered by way of cesarean section at 3:45 a.m. on 03/31/05, my everything! I remember the pain being so severe that I wanted to jump out of the window and smack everyone that I encountered on my way down! It was intense and excruciating! Nonetheless, once I saw her, the pain magically disappeared. Weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 13oz, 22 inches long, she was the beginning of a real love experience. My daughter means so much to me and I chose her birthing experience because giving her life was a pivotal moment in my life.  I believe that the birthing pattern that an infant follow is a precursor to their personality and the way they will do things throughout life.  My baby was stubborn and was born when she decided that it was time. Now at 7 years old, she is still stubborn and figures things out on her own time. Nonetheless, she always has perfect timing, whether I realize it or not.