Child malnutrition Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Child malnutrition - Research Paper Example Some of the worst cases are in the regions of sub-Saharan Africa (in countries such as Botswana, Burundi and Nigeria) and in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) but there are also packets of malnutrition in areas like Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Laos) or in Latin America (Bolivia, Guatemala and Peru). Child malnutrition can start at the infant stage when there is no or very poor breast feeding is available. This can persist as the child grows up and has an irreversible impact on a child’s health by age two. Malnourished children grow up into adults with some serious health problems such as tuberculosis and increasing the risk of infection to a variety of diseases. The issue of child malnutrition has a knock-on effect on an individual starting with lowered brain functions resulting in impaired educational achievement which in turn results into a failure to gain the right education in order to get decent jobs and earn a respectable income. This paper discusses the issue of child malnutrition from a global perspective, what the charities and aid organizations are doing to help kids and evaluate how effective these aid programs are. Discussion Child malnutrition has taken center stage in the world’s attention because it had crept up again, with the number of malnourished children increasing. Various causes of this are to frequent conflicts that destroy the delivery of basic government services. In the past period, especially during 1950-2000, there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of children’s malnutrition worldwide especially in the group of developing countries (Smith & Haddad 61). Vast improvements in women’s education, women’s social status, national food availability, a rise in incomes and attainment of democratic freedoms contributed to the reduction (ibid.) and the most significant improvements were achieved in the region of East and Southeast Asia. In these two regions lived some 2.1 billion inhabita nts (with China alone at 1.3 billion people). The reduction in child malnutrition prevalence was due extremely rapid reduction in the child mortality rates from migrations, urbanization, increased access to education and an aggressive family-health and maternal-health intervention program (Attane & Barbiere 7). Global Issue – child malnutrition has attracted the focus of efforts from the WHO as it is one of the leading preventable causes of death among children. In particular, about half of all child deaths (estimated between 4.6 and 5.0 million annually) are caused by malnutrition. Diarrhea is a major risk factor in child malnutrition that results from the lack of safe drinking water in developing countries, especially for children under five years old (Oloo 3). Diarrhea is the most prevalent in developing countries and accounts for a high proportion of sickness and death among children because of its strong correlation to malabsorption of nutrients (The World Bank 22). A la ck of iodine has been identified as a leading preventable cause of child’s mental impairment which is estimated to reduce the intelligence quotient by10-15 points in a case of another preventable cause of malnutrition that requires only little financial resources which developing countries could very well afford even without outside aid. Child Malnutrition in Somalia –

Attributes & Qualities that can Enhance Mentor's Effectiveness Essay

Attributes & Qualities that can Enhance Mentor's Effectiveness - Essay Example Awareness and implementation of appropriate mentor attributes establishes the correct environment for the nursing learner to benefit from the outcomes (Aston and Hallam 2011, p64). In this discourse, the attributes required for a mentor to deliver improved learner outcomes in the nursing profession are highlighted and elaborated. Despite the fact that psychological and learning relationships are factors of a myriad principles and elements, a few stand out exceptionally well as discussed in this discourse. A mentor takes the form of a special teacher mainly due to the basic learning experience that the student obtains from a successful mentorship program where the learning nurse develops (Clark, Jasper & West, (2007, p15). The difference between the mentor and the ordinary teacher surrounds the discharge of professional nurturing for a longer time than the actual course period. The continuation of the relationship until the learner completely settles in nursing is important, which mak es the relationship different from teacher-student relationship. A mentor should exhibit certain desirable traits that are important in the establishment of the expected outcomes in the mentorship relationship. In order for the students to obtain the quality learning outcomes preparing them for a good professional nursing experience, the mentor needs to demonstrate certain level of dedication and understanding of issues at the psychological level (Hinchcliff 2004, p65). Among the most important qualities of a mentor, confidence, assertiveness, and empathy facilitate successful mentorship process. Confidence In nearly every nurturing relationship, the senior party needs to demonstrate confidence to the junior party in order to develop the desired outcomes with time progression. In order for the learner to understand every aspect of nursing profession with the appropriate confidence, the figure looked to for the training and experience must be the sole sources of confidence. Despite t he role of the teacher in terms of academic and professional attitude cannot be underestimated in the building of confidence, the significance of confidence building outside the lecture hall in nursing is specifically important. To illustrate the significance of a secondary trainer with better confidence training opportunity, the mentor’s professional relationship with the student captures a longer and direct participation than the teacher’s position. Professional confidence demonstrated by the mentor therefore captures important professional practice that may not be imparted in the classroom (Hughes and Kinnell 2010, p78). The novice nurses are required to demonstrate impeccable leadership and professional concentration that depends on the quality of faith they have in their discharge of duties. To demonstrate the highest quality of professional prowess, the trainers’ quality must not bear a blemish. In view of the mentor’s role ion instilling confidence and professional belief in the novice nurse, it is imperative that confidence levels remain at top-notch level at every mentorship episode. Confidence entails demonstration of masterly and willingness to provide leadership in every task that the nurse will undertake. Within the correct frame of mind influenced by confidence, the nurse gets extra skills to tackle challenges that a learner without confidence would not solve. If the mentor is confident, the novice nurse gains better professional ideas and therefore less likely to make mistakes. An