Child Development and Public Health

Nutrition/malnutrition - Almost 9 percent of the world's children suffer from "wasting," being severely and chronically malnourished because they do not get adeguate calories, especially calories from protein.  And also, 9 percent are short for their age and underweight for their height.  Their are two types of diseases that can come from malnutrition marasmus and Kwashiorkor.

Immunization - it protects children from getting contagious diseases.  It has had a greater impact on humor mortality reduction and population growth. 

Access to healthy water - healthy water helps build the immune system.

Sudden infant death sundrome (SIDS) - this is a situation where healthy infants, at least 2 months of age, stops breathing suddenly and dies unexpectedly while asleep.

Breastfeeding - is the best way for a baby to have a good nutrition. Compared to cow milk, human milk is sterile, at body temperature, with iron, vitamins, and other nutrients for brain and body.

Mental health of mothers, fathers, and families in general - After having a baby mothers suffer from postpartum depression ( a sense of sadness and inadequacy). The father reaction is crucial when a mother experience postpartum depression.  Even is the mother is not depressed, the father's depression is likely to affect the baby.

 

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.