Understanding Health

D ifferently A bled Health of the children is a critical concern for all societies, since it contributes to their overall development. The age group category of children includes toddlers, infants, and kids in the age-group up to years, adolescents in the age-group from to years, and differently abled belonging to both the age-groups. Health, nutrition, and education are important for the overall development of the children, so that they grow as empowered members of the society and responsible citizens of the nation. The criticality of health concerns of all the groups need multi-dimensional response, depending upon their specific age, and socio-economic and educational status of the parents. Health Needs of Children Childhood is the stage during which the foundation of healthy life is laid. The physical, mental and social health needs are significant for the overall development of the child. The basic health needs of the children belonging to pre-natal, post- natal and childhood stages are related to food and nutrition, immunity, positive family and social environment. Children in India continue to lose their lives to vaccine preventable diseases, such as, measles, which remains the biggest killer. The major cause of mortality and morbidity among children is a group of disease conditions like, diarrhoea, pneumonia and fevers which occur due to lack of immediate treatment by the family and non-availability of adequate health services. Besides, poor living conditions and lack of response to basic needs of children are also responsible factors. Even those who survive these hurdles, by the time they reach school, they may be underweight, malnourished, and susceptible to multiple illnesses. There is an urgent need to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to ensure adequate response to the health needs of children. Besides ensuring availability of quality health and nutrition services, reducing mortality rates, and improving access to education and skill development should be given priority. All children must undergo the entire course of vaccination and this process must continue. To attain these goals, it is essential to make the people aware about the urgent need of all the age-groups and ensure that these needs are responded well in time and health, and nutrition services are utilised. The process of governance must make sure that these services are availed by all including the marginalised sections of the society. Health Needs of Adolescents Fig. . : Snapshot of adolescent health in India Adolescents constitute about one-fifth of India’s population. As you have already learnt, adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood and a critical period for the development of self-identity. The process of acquiring a sense of self-awareness is linked to physical, physiological, mental, and emotional changes. It is also a phase of learning to negotiate the social and psychological demands of being young adults. Responsible handling of issues like, independence, intimacy and peer group dependence are concerns that need to be recognised, and appropriate support be given to cope with them. Adolescents are confused about sudden changes taking place in their bodies and minds. As a result, they face many doubts regarding numerous concerns, and health related uses. Many adolescents experience tension, and stress and respond differently on different occasions. There are concerns about growing too tall or not gaining height, growth and development of body parts, and so on. Worrying about pimples on the face is a common problem during adolescence. Adolescence is also a time when there is a temptation to experiment, which leads them to indulge in various negative behaviours. The process of distancing from parents and dependence on peer group also lands them in confusing situations. No doubt the peer group provides positive impact but quite often it leads them to adopt negative behaviour. The most common is drug abuse. As a result, there are chances of their becoming addicted to smoking and various kinds of drugs. Initially, the young people take these for fun, relaxation, or to get out of tension and stress. But later there are higher chances of one becoming addicted to these. Unfortunately, the earlier one gets into the habit of substance misuse, the greater are the chances of addiction, and serious diseases like cancer, and heart diseases during adult age. Major health needs and problems among adolescents include nutritional disorders (malnutrition as well as obesity), substance abuse, high risk sexual behaviour, stress, mental disorders, and injuries (including road traffic injuries, suicides, and different types of violence). Many of these are precursors of communicable and non-communicable diseases (including mental disorders), and injuries, which inflict high morbidity, mortality, disability, and economic burden on adolescents, their households, and health systems. Moreover, the addiction to internet, especially to social media, has been increasingly keeping them under great stress, leading them to undergo depression and self- harm. They need help and guidance to pass over this period smoothly. They need counseling and healthcare advice, as well as treatment. Health Needs of the Differently Abled You would have observed that the differently-abled children are often hidden in their homes. Usually this type of discrimination starts in the family. It exists at various levels such as, education centers, work places, and in healthcare facilities and so on. Due to the stigma associated with disabilities, the families also become the victims of discrimination. As a result, the differently-abled children face chronic ill health, socio-economic burden, and isolation. According to World Health Organisation, disability is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is thus not just a health problem but is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which they live. The National Policy for Persons with Disabilities ( ) recognises that the persons with disabilities are valuable human resources for the country. It seeks to create an environment that provides equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society. The Agenda for Sustainable Development has also highlighted about the needs and issues of ‘Persons with disabilities’ and ‘Persons in vulnerable situation’. Therefore, taking care of physical, social and emotional well-being of such a population is a major challenge. Many policies and welfare schemes have been planned in the Do You Know? About . per cent of the total population of India is ‘disabled’. The highest number of disabled persons in India is from the State of Uttar Pradesh. At all India level, . per cent of the disabled persons belong to the age group of – years. Focus today is on inclusive education. Source: Census Activity . Discuss with your classmates —how and why excessive use of social networking site is depressing and self harming? field of education and health to overcome various difficulties faced by the differently-abled individuals and their families. The focus is on ‘inclusive development’ for the welfare of differently-abled persons which is an important milestone towards sustainable development. Health Status of Children in India at a Glance •• At all India level, the sex ratio in the age groups – years and – years are and respectively whereas it is for all ages and also is not favourable to females in many of the States and UTs. •• As per Sample Registration System (SRS)- , there has been substantial reduction in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at all India level from in to in . Among the bigger States and UTs, IMR varies widely from in Kerala to in Madhya Pradesh. The IMR for female has been reported at against for male. •• Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) estimated at for at all India level varies significantly in rural ( ) and urban areas (Data). Among the bigger States and UTs, U5MR varies from in Kerala to in Madhya Pradesh. •• At all India level, per cent of children had mild anaemia, per cent had moderate anaemia, and per cent had severe anaemia in – . •• National Family Health Survey (NFHS- ) ( – ) shows that at all India level, per cent of children under five years of age are stunted (too short height for their age) which is an improvement from per cent in – . It is higher among children in rural areas ( %) than that of urban areas ( %). •• Five states with higher prevalence of stunting in children under five years age are Bihar ( %), Uttar Pradesh ( %), Jharkhand ( %), and Meghalaya ( %), whereas it is lowest in Kerala and Goa ( % in each). •• At all India level, per cent of children under five years age are wasted. It varies in the range of per cent in Mizoram to per cent in Jharkhand. •• The prevalence of anaemia among children in age group – months is highest among children in Haryana ( %) and lowest in Mizoram ( %). •• At all India level, per cent of children of age – months received all basic vaccinations at any time before the NFHS - , and per cent received all basic vaccinations by months of age. Activity . •• Prepare a chart on the Disability Act . •• Observe your surroundings and analyse how far the act has been implemented. •• List the actions you can take and share with your classmates. •• Collect information about various programmes and schemes for differently-abled individuals and share it in the morning assembly. •• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that the rate of crime against children (below years of age) has increased to per lakh children in from . in . •• Under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, (POCSO) crimes reported are as high as . per cent of the total crime against children.