Malnutrition and Child Mortality Rates
Perhaps, the gravest problem of all is malnutrition. Without essential minerals that produce strong and healthy connective tissues in the body, organ development and the proper structure of connective issues, remain weak. As many mothers go hungry throughout their entire pregnancy, not only does malnutrition threaten the survival of the mother during her pregnancy, her child’s survival-before and after birth-is always at risk. High child mortality rates also contribute to the number of pregnancies a mother feels she must carry, which results in women having less knowledge about family planning (Cleaver and Schreiber 2).
Prominent Viruses
Malnourished mothers are unable to breastfeed their newborn, causing micro nutritional issues and has created an epidemic of fetal and infant neuroinvasive infections. (Lartey). Of which there are four prevalent: “ZIKV, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus and Ebola virus that attack the human brain at various stages of development” (Kakooza-Mwesige). Of the four, Ebola is the deadliest, causes negative neurological and psychiatric disabilities for the few who survive (Kakooza-Mwesige). By arresting long-term development its survivors deal with many psychosocial issues, like depression and ophthalmological issues that affect the quality of life after cured (Kakooza-Mwesige and Mohammed et al). These four diseases and AIDS affects development, most importantly, and makes regional advancement impossible.
Of all the viruses, West Nile virus is particularly injurious because it is most common. Victims score low in cognitive and neuropsychological tests (Kakooza-Mwesige). Another virus, chikungunya affects by side effects of social disorders, autism, echolalia, and heavy onset seizures (Kakooza-Mwesige). These disorders lead to a two-year delay of social, language, and civic skills (Kakooza-Mwesige and Mohammed et al). All of these neurological disorders are due to malnutrition.
Viruses
Besides the damage caused by viruses, vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, other health factors include diseases such as HIV. A recent study found that “children from 17 studies were included in the analysis (n = 4891), of whom 29.2% were HIV-infected. HIV-infected children were significantly more likely to die than HIV-uninfected children” (Fergusson). Since HIV affects physical and mental development, there is a link between HIV and childhood infections and brain development.
Viruses
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