Iron Supplement Essay

Humans have numerous interdependent developmental areas such as sensory-motor, cognitive, and social-emotional (Grantham-Mcgregor, 2007). These areas are extremely sensitive and easily affected during childhood years. In many developing countries, these areas are neglected due to poverty, poor nutrition, health issues and deficient care resulting in children being unable to reach their developmental potential. These factors are usually not seen alone, but combine to result in poor development (Grantham-Mcgregor, 2007). This information is based off of the series Child Development in Developing Countries, a series of research journals by The International Child Development Steering Group.

Of the 156 developing countries analyzed in a study,

This deficiency is a risk factor in child development as it affects the central nervous system which can even lead to mental retardation in extreme cases (Walker, 2007). Iron deficiency also contributes to many developmental issues caused by changing the brains metabolism as well as the makeup of genes and proteins. This can also be seen at the prenatal level (Walker, 2007). Current programs try to address this problem by informing women about this issue which has resulted in an increase in the purchase of iron supplements in Latin America, the Caribbean, South/Southeast Asia but not as common in sub-Saharan Africa (Wang, 2011). Although the prevalence of using iron supplements in sub-Saharan Africa is lower than other countries, studies do show a large increase in purchasing which will be addressing the dangerously high levels of anemia in mothers and their children (Wang,

Solution

The need for child development programs has become more well known in developing countries. In 2005, 52 developing countries were loaned a total of $1680 million dollars by the World Bank for these programs (Engle, 2007).

The implementation of programs to provide early intervention to promote survival, growth and develelopment of children. The programs also aim to reduce risks to reduce the effects of those risks. There are direct care programs which work with children while assessing their hygiene, growth and health. Programs also focus on parents implement activities to increase positive parenting practices.

Providing nutritional supplement programs to small children and pregnant women, reducing iodine and iron deficiency, learning stimulation at a young age and parenting advice are all examples of programs that are individually implemented in developing countries. There are also comprehensive programs that assess overall needs of a child

Early child development programmes3 are designed to improve the survival, growth, and development of young children, prevent the occurrence of risks, and ameliorate the negative effects of risks. Most are directed