negligence

Medical Negligence – The Downfall of General medicine

Medical profession is one of the most reputed professions in the world as we know and  doctors are considered as gods because they save our lives.

It is sad to say that hospitals in the state, and all over India, have become money generating machines for many doctors, while the patients have become their commodities. There are many doctors who are working in private hospitals while they are actually supposed to be serving in Government hospitals. It is a serious matter that in order to make profit, doctors make patients undergo unnecessary clinical tests at the private centres, even though the government hospitals are equipped with laboratory facilities. In corporate hospitals, each patient may be seen by multiple specialists. An orthopaedic surgeon is called because the hands and feet are aching; a neurologist for numbness in the hands. They come and look at the patient and their charges are added to the bill. Here investigations are not based on what the patient’s illness is, and whether there is a need for specific investigations. Given any complaint, they produce a list of investigations that must be done.  Is it useful for multiple specialists to examine a patient? This question is never even asked. In many private medical colleges, the students only see a few patients, and even fewer from the poorer sections. How will they develop social sensitivity? There is a need to appoint a welfare officer who can advise the patient parties about the cost involved and other clinical testing required for a particular treatment.

A Medical Nightmare 

Recently, a hospital was under scrutiny for committing medical negligence.  The following is our case report on the incident.

CHILDLINE Trivandrum received complaint from a young couple regarding medical negligence. The mother was consulting the gynaecologist in a reputed hospital in the city. The first scan, as instructed by the hospital was taken in the hospital itself. The baby’s condition was reported good. They were very much content with the treatment provided by the experts in the hospital.  The next two scans were completed as per instructions from the hospital and the child’s condition was reported to be good.  In the seventh month the couple decided to take a scan elsewhere before the scheduled scan at the hospital and  the scan revealed absolutely terrifying results, as the baby was found multiple abnormalities and no procedure could correct them. The most flinching of them all was the undeveloped testis and absence of ovaries. This made the sex determination of the child almost impossible.    

The baby was born with many abnormalities such as microcephaly, cleft palate (breast feeding not possible), retrognathia, upper limb anomalies, undescended testis, hairy forehead and so on. The parents left the child at the hospital in the first week of October, 2016 for the treatment of deformities. On the same day evening, we informed SHO of the local station, who in turn contacted the General Manager (Administration) of the hospital. The hospital authorities contacted us requesting immediate intervention to transfer the baby to a higher centre for special care. They stated that unless the baby was shifted to a higher centre for proper care, the life of the baby might become endangered. The next day, CHILDLINE Team visited the hospital and enquired about the matter and their formalities under progress. The case was forwarded to CWC and Child Rights Commission with the written complaint of the mother citing medical negligence. An expert team was sent to examine the situation at the hospital. Now, the commission has ordered the hospital to look after the baby. The mother visits the child daily but has no option to take it home, as they are financially weak and cannot facilitate the treatment.  

What is Medical Negligence?

Public awareness of medical negligence in India is growing. Hospital managements are increasingly facing complaints regarding the facilities, standards of professional competence, and the appropriateness of their therapeutic and diagnostic methods. After the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, has come into force some patients have filed legal cases against doctors, have established that the doctors were negligent in their medical service, and have claimed and received compensation. As a result, a number of legal decisions have been made on what constitutes negligence and what is required to prove it.

Medical malpractice can take many forms. Here are some examples of medical negligence that one might encounter:

·        Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis

·        Misreading or ignoring laboratory results

·        Unnecessary surgery

·        Surgical errors or wrong site surgery

·        Improper medication or dosage

·        Poor follow-up or aftercare

·        Premature discharge

·        Disregarding or not taking appropriate patient history

·        Failure to order proper testing

·        Failure to recognize symptoms

It is important to know what constitutes medical negligence. A doctor owes certain duties to the patient who consults him for illness. A deficiency in this duty results in negligence. A basic knowledge of how medical negligence is adjudicated in the various judicial courts of India will help a doctor to practice his profession without undue worry about facing litigation for alleged medical negligence.

media influence

The  ‘Freeky Child’

Technology robs children of their innocence in many overt and covert ways. In early societies, children learnt from natural cycles of life. They watched adults manifest food from the ground, observed how usable goods were derived from raw materials, and watched how other provisions were made for basic needs and enjoyment. They listened to stories at mealtime and ceremonial gatherings, which were told by elders who cared about maintaining standards for the survival of their community. Present day children who watch cartoons and other programs on television, and who play video games become enamoured with fast paced, highly stimulating, sexualized, and violent material and this remove them from reality into a world of hallucinations.

To understand the gravity of the issue, let us discuss a case reported to CHILDLINE Trivandrum. Childline team attended a case at Vilappilsala. The SHO called to CHILDLINE and informed that they found a boy (Krishnan) wandering alone near Kollamkonam at 1 AM in the night. The boy said that he was orphaned by the Puttingal fireworks accident and that his father’s friend put him up in a bakery at Trivandrum to earn money. Upon bringing him to our centre and counseling the boy, we found incongruity in his statements. The police had contacted local police at Puttingal in order to trace his relatives and informed media to get support to rehabilitate him and report his statements. One of the inmates of our home identified him and his name and address and school were different. Later he confessed the details about his family and he left home because his mother had found a cell phone in his bag which he had borrowed from a friend.  He was afraid that his mother would get angry with him. They came to CHILDLINE office and we restored him to home after providing emotional support and guidance. 

If parents and caregivers reinforce the notion, children may come to understand on an intellectual level that certain forms of entertainment are not reality but mere fantasy. However, on a much more influential emotional level, children do not comprehend this difference. They become physically and chemically addicted to excitement and the hormones cursing through their brains and bodies; they develop no realistic grasp on the threat of danger.

Repeatedly exposed to unnatural levels of stimulation created by entertainment programmes children lose or never develop their own natural motivation and ability to create, explore their personal and unique Inner Worlds, listen to the still soft voice within, and surrender to a larger world of spiritual mystery. Life for them becomes a quest for external stimulation, instant gratification, entertainment, and sensual fulfilment, and the more the better. Since few can creatively compete with highly paid teams of geniuses that thrive on corporate greed, children may unconsciously believe they are not talented, can never compete, and are not good enough. Cartoons, movies, sports, and news programs expose young minds to so much violence, out-of-context sex, and a general lack of compassion. Winning for thrills, conquering, and annihilating become the coveted goal and grand prize. Hypnotized by mass media, children learn to conquer the next guy, to win at the expense of all else, to conform to a projected image, to consume, to manipulate, or retreat into their own shells. Through technology, children are given an acceptable way to avoid contact with others, further denying needed interactions that would teach everyone involved how to handle their emotions and energy, refine their communication skills, and generally manage their energy. Children are now being seen and told they are good and well behaved for appearing docile and compliant. Thus their social and coping skills are diminished.

The second case involves a school girl of class 7. Her case was brought to us by the police. Sweta (Given name) allegedly survived a kidnapping attempt on her way to tuitions. Her statements were found self contradictory. This prompted the police to transfer the case to CHILDLINE. While undergoing counselling session with CHILDLINE, the girl repeated her statement to the police. While walking towards her Hindi tuition class, Sweta found two vehicles a white jeep and ambassador stopping by her side. They whistled to grab her attention. As she turned around, one of the men inside the car sprayed something onto her face. She felt dizzy and almost going unconscious. While trying to drag her into the car, she heard a scream. A girl was shouting for help, in Tamil, inside the car. She was held captive by an elderly lady.  As the person holding Sweta, lost focus, she pushed him aside and ran towards the tuition teacher’s house. Seeing the desperate girl, the teacher raised alarm. Soon, people of the locality started searching for those mentioned by the girl. But none of them could find any such vehicles that matched the description. We found discrepancies in her statement at various instances. Upon cross checking the facts with her again and again, the girl broke down. She had cooked up the whole story, just to avoid punishment from her tuition teacher, for not completing the homework.       

This loss of innocence, imagination, and skills leads to a fragmentary understanding of love between man and woman. Since people are attracted to others of parallel consciousness and frequency, high tech children are drawn to similar fragmented beings that have never developed an understanding of who they are. Two half beings do not unite to make a whole being. They just know they need something they do not have and want to get it by any shortcut method at their disposal. Their ―love is in reality only an addiction, a need for gratification from an external source.

The third might probably be the most shocking of the lot. In the second week of October, CHILDLINE received information about class teacher regarding a girl named Shamna (given name) 13 years old studying in 8^th standard at a govt. HSS. The Headmaster and PTA president found suspicious evidence linking the girl to an unknown sex racket. Her side of the story has almost 15 to 20 versions. The girl made her mother believe that she receives messages from her class teacher. The messages ask the mother to take her child to various places as part of a quiz competition. During these visits she allegedly exchanged a few gold ornaments. These were in fact stolen by Shamna’s tuition teacher, who forced her to do so by black mailing. Another claim by the girl is that a relative of Shamna has naked photos of her used for blackmail. Shamna also alleges that she had discontinued classes from 16^th of August owing to a freak accident that bruised her nose. The school authorities tried to contact her mother. But the girl answered the call posing to be her mother. So they removed her name from the school roll/attendance register. School authorities informed CHILDLINE to follow up the case, but they not even once made a home visit to identify the issue. Till now, there has been no evidence to substantiate her claims.

Without self-awareness, discipline, and skills, parent and child will not be able to live harmoniously together and be fully alive. Witness how so many families begin with their children, happy and content, similar to an enjoyable movie. But when years pass by, they end up taking so much time away from the other or taking things for granted. They are not acting out of love and compassion anymore, but out of personal egoistic gratification. Unconditional love must be the foundation and the building blocks of daily living within any relationship or it will disintegrate. This requires presence of the parents with children and time for interaction without the barrier of TV, cell phone, video games, internet etc. 

dosth

CHILDLINE Se Dosti

The CHILDLINE Se Dosti campaign 2016 was flagged off in Trivandrum on November 14, 2016. As part of the weeklong celebration, CHILDLINE Trivandrum conducted different awareness campaigns at various parts of the city. Taking note of the rise in drug abuse cases among school children; the focus was on making children aware of the ill effects of drug abuse.

Govt BHS Pettah was host to the inaugural ceremony of the CHIDLINE Se Dosti campaign organised by the team of CHILDLINE Trivandrum.  The ceremony was witnessed by more than 200 students of the school. Fr Thomas P.D, Director, CHILDLINE Trivandrum delivered the welcome speech; expressing the importance of the cause, and how to stay away from the drug trend. During the function, a poster by the CHILDLINE Trivandrum on ‘Anti Drug Abuse’ was released by the school principal Dr Sheeja and handed over to Smt Sheelakumari, the school headmistress. Both of them spoke on the awareness campaign and the substance abuse issues among children. One of the interns at CHILDLINE, Mr Robin, a Swedish national also graced the occasion with his presence. After the official ceremony, a short video featuring actor Prithviraj called “Road Trip to Hell” by Bodhini was shown to the young audience. Later a quiz competition was conducted by the team, on the topic, with the active participation of the students; every one of them was given prizes too. The quiz focussed on the knowledge of children on drug menace, ill effects of drugs on the body, preventive aspects and legal dimensions of drug problem.  The programme ended with an awareness poster release. It was released by the principal and handed over to the headmistress to be displayed in the school.

In the latter part of the day, the team has been busy raising awareness through public address and anti drug moving exhibition. A vehicle with loud speaker made its way through the city and rural areas spreading the message against drug abuse prepared by CHILDLINE Trivandrum.  This programme will be continued in other schools also.

Being a Positive Teacher

Relationship

The teacher student relationship is very important for children. Children spend approximately 5 to 7 hours a day with a teacher for almost 10 months. We need to ask ourselves what is considered a good teacher. All of us have gone through schooling, and if fortunate had a favourite teacher. A positive relationship between the student and the teacher is difficult to establish, but can be found for both individuals at either end. The qualities for a positive relationship can vary to set a learning experience approachable and inviting the students to learn.

A teacher and student who have the qualities of good communications, respect in a classroom, and show interest in teaching from the point of view of the teacher and learning from a student will establish a positive relationship in the classroom. But we need to focus on the relationship between the student and teacher, involving a setting not just inside the four walls of a classroom but to be extremely important for the student to gain a positive attitude for their future as well.

CHILDINE Trivandrum received sensitive information on three students being callously punished in a prominent higher secondary school in Trivandrum. The case was informed by one of the child’s mother. The girls were emotionally and physically harassed by their teacher. Our team visited the school and met the concerned students and teacher.

Reportedly, the other day, one of the girls with her friends excused themselves from the class and went to the toilet. This was during the second last hour of the day. And soon the hour was over and the next one began shortly after five minutes. The teacher designated for the next hour found that the three students were missing from class. Upon inquiry, she found out that the three had left the classroom for almost 20 minutes.

This agitated the teacher and without asking for any reasons or explanations, she beat them and scolded them instead of hearing them out. Our staff visited the school and met both the teacher and the girls. It was found that the girl was on Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It was unfortunate that the lady teacher did not have the courtesy or patience to ask of the matter. The team gave them guidance and emotional support to settle the problem.

Communication is the key

The communication between the student and the teacher serves as a connection between the two, which provides a better atmosphere for a classroom environment. Of course a teacher is not going to understand every problem for every child in his or her classroom, but will acquire enough information for those students who are struggling with specific issues. The more the teacher connects or communicates with his or her students, the more likely they will be able to help students learn at a high level and accomplish quickly.

Teacher needs to understand that in many schools, especially in big cities like Trivandrum, children come from different cultures and backgrounds. Understanding the family back ground of the child will surely help to better assess the child.   A child from a dysfunctional family might have unruly behaviour due to lack of sufficient care from parent and neglect issues and mental health problems.

The Distress Call

PMS is a completely natural occurrence, although it can come at an inconvenient time. If it starts while you are in class, you will want to remain calm and request assistance from your teacher. Following a clear plan of action will put you back in control. Try to wait until there is a break in the class discussion or a transition between activities. Raise your hand or approach the teacher’s desk and ask to visit the restroom. Do this as soon as you suspect that your period is starting so you can avoid any staining. You may need to indicate that you can't wait, as some schools limit bathroom breaks and have less number of bathrooms.

Though there are students who have a difficult time in school and David Thomas’ essay, “The Mind of Man” states: “children who are yelled at feel rejected and frightened because a teacher shouts at them”. The example above demonstrates the feelings the child has towards the teacher leading to inhibiting the child from learning. The reasons for children to be yelled at vary from teacher to teacher, but shouting should not be the solution for children who find education a difficult process or simply lack of learning experiences, but sometimes teachers find yelling at the child as the only immediate solution.

End Note

Therefore, how does a teacher hold a relationship that leads to effectively teaching the children? The answer becomes clear when teachers interact with, and learn more about their students. Our first educational experience, which takes place in the primary years of our life, sets the principles for our future education. Every school year an elementary teacher deals with new faces and new attitudes. Some children find themselves lacking an interest in learning and others feel playing and fooling around at school with friends is the happiest moment of their life.

The solution to inappropriate behaviour will not automatically get rid of the poor attitude of these children. It is important to establish a positive relationship. Teachers can establish a positive relationship with their students by communicating with them and properly providing feedback to them. Respect between teacher and student is important in feeling enthusiastic when learning and teaching. Establishing a positive relationship with students will encourage students to pursue education and be enthusiastic and active in school. 

teenage preganancy

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Our society claims to be modern and aping the western culture. But, are we able to change our thought process accordingly or are we still facing doubts on whether to accept certain issues or not. Teenage pregnancy is one such issue. Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy attained between puberty and the age of 19. 

The other day, CHILDLINE Trivandrum received an emergency call from a PRO of Trivandrum’s most prominent government hospital. It was a case of teenage pregnancy. Karthika (Given Name) is a student of class IX in one of city’s leading school for girls. Over the past few days, the teachers noticed certain abnormalities and unusual behaviour patterns in the girl. Upon questioning, she revealed that, her relationship with her neighbour had gone physical, and now she was carrying. Her parents were called upon and the matter was informed. Though devastated, they made up their mind on what next to be done. At the medical facility, the child’s parents had brought her for an abortion. But things were already out of hand, as she was seven months pregnant.

CHILIDLINE team intervened in the case and talked with both parents and the child. The girl confessed that the relationship was mutual. But what made us wonder, was details given about the abuser. The man was 28 years old, a seasoned criminal. He has been booked under various cases including ganja peddling and sexual abuse/assault. Recently, a girl with whom the alleged suspect had a relation committed suicide fearing social backlash. We provided counselling for the child and sent her back with her parents, assuring full support.

THE SHOCK FACTOR    

One of the worst fears a parent can have is, when they get to know that their daughter is pregnant. What is even more astonishing is when your daughter comes home and confesses to you that she’s “in trouble”.

The girl may still be in high school, maybe she is younger. And maybe she is still in college or just set out on her own with a carefully thought out plan. Maybe the parents knew about the boyfriend, or maybe they didn’t even know she had one. At times they are completely surprised by the fact that she’s even had a relationship! It really doesn’t matter how this happened, the fact is that it did and now, the daughter needs help.

REASONS

The culturally rooted practice of early marriage due to socio-cultural and economic pressure and pre-marital sex are the causative factors of early pregnancies. While incidence of teenage pregnancy is high among those in rural areas, it is not so with the urban teenagers. Some of the reasons for teenage pregnancy are:-

1. Child marriage is a social evil which needs to be curbed in order to curb teenage pregnancy and the ruining of the lives of millions of adolescent girls.

2. Exposure to domestic violence especially of a sexual nature and minors’ being raped often leads to pregnancy.

3. High risk behaviour such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse can be one of the main reasons.

4. Stress and depression often leads to a situation in which a child might fall into the pit of unprotected sex and can be pregnant.

5. Financial constraints in poor families often lead to adolescents taking steps which are bound to affect their lives in a negative manner.

6. Family problems often cause children to seek love and support elsewhere and often is a cause of early relationships

6. Above all, the most common reason for teen pregnancy is unprotected sex.

THE SOCIAL BACKLASH

A teenager who gets pregnant finds it difficult to be accepted socially. They experience isolation, guilt accompanied by stress and depression, low self esteem, lack of interest in studies, limited job prospects, and lack of support group or friends, mental and emotional trauma. In such a situation even the parents and friends find it hard to help the female. Friends often want to help, but due to the social stigma, do not come forward. Often the teenager is left in isolation and the post effects of this can be prolonged and depressing.

PREVENTION AND CARE

Explaining the health risks associated with teenage pregnancy, a senior gynaecologist at Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Tamil Nadu said, “Pregnant teenagers are likely to develop complaints of anaemia, mal-presentation and blood pressure. In cases of unplanned pregnancy, the patient will undergo mental and physical trauma”. It also leads to psychological disorder and affects the baby to be born. There are various methods by which teenage pregnancy can be prevented. A few of them are:

1 Parents and schools should have open talks with teenagers regarding sex and related issues. Sex education forms an important part of the above process.

2. Providing advice on how to prevent teenage pregnancy.

3. Proper contraceptive counselling should be done and the teenagers should have full information about contraceptive options such as birth control pills, condoms, etc.

4. Display responsible sexual behaviour and abstain from sex as far as possible.

Finally, the teenage girls should take it upon themselves to make their choice of contraception because it is they who suffer from the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy.

END NOTE

The key to reproductive health is making motherhood safer through access to family planning to reduce unintended pregnancies and to space intended pregnancies and provide skilled care for all pregnancies and births. It’s easy to say but hard to be in a situation and cope with it. The question that still remains is that “Will teenage pregnancy ever be socially acceptable?” As in, will people ever come forward to help a child in such a situation or will they disregard her to live a life of hell without any help.

PAR

Participatory Action Research

Participatory research methods are geared towards planning and conducting the research process with those people whose life-world and meaningful actions are under study. Consequently, this means that the aim of the inquiry and the research questions develop out of the convergence of two perspectives—that of science and practice. In the best case, both sides benefit from the research process.

Participatory action research (PAR) is an approach to research in communities that emphasizes participation as a right and action. It seeks to understand the world by trying to change it, collaboratively and following reflection. PAR emphasizes collective inquiry and experimentation grounded in experience and social history. We are applying the same to the situation of vulnerable children to grow them into responsible citizens.

An All-Inclusive Curriculum

The Trivandrum Don Bosco Nivas is perhaps Trivandrum’s first care home to have a curriculum framework for educators working in early education and care settings with children from age five to 18. It identifies shared values and beliefs and contributes to consistency of practice across different learning settings. The Society promotes professional dialogue within and between settings and highlights the crucial role early childhood educators play in establishing strong foundations for children’s current wellbeing, future learning and life success.

The thought of developing a curriculum for all the children in various disciplines (both academic and non academic) at Don Bosco Nivas was raised by the most unexpected voices: the children themselves. The curriculum is an amalgamation of diverse facets such as academic subjects, arts and crafts, farming techniques etc. We could make these thoughts into a reality, only through the result of painstaking research and evaluation technique called the Participatory Action Research.

The Process

This process will take time. It is not a one-off experience, but an ongoing professional process of reflection and renewal.

The main aim of PAR and its process is to enable the children, along with care administrators and researchers, with the process of developing capacity and skills to analyze their situation and initiate appropriate measures to transform their situation and sustain further. In order to achieve this we have created a team called focus group formed by children, care administrators, management and the researcher.

The researcher arranges one on one meeting, group meeting, observation etc with the focus group on the identified issues. With their support and suggestions we have implemented some of the changes in the center. Personal meeting and group discussion with the team helped to identify their issues particularly and generally. Also the meeting with the management has made a common platform for the focus group to feel free and express their issues.    

As a research module, PAR is already being carried out in 10 YaR centres of South India with a view to making them more child-directed. 

Fundamental Principles of Participatory Research

As the community that involved in the research are at a weaker position, it is very important to involve in the process with an unbiased and democratic outlook. Every research has a set of rules or principles that it follows. When it comes to PAR, there are a few as well:-

·         Democracy as a precondition for participatory research

Unbiased and democratic outlook, where everyone are considered equal; both children and the researchers

·         The need for a "safe space"

The perfect environment alone can create an incredible opportunity for the children to open up in front of the researchers

·         Proper definition of  "the community" participating

The children should have the basic cognitive ability to understand the questions and involve in the process.

·         Different degrees of participation

Participation can be of various kinds; at times it can be questioning, and other times it may be just a casual point made on the subject

Features of PAR

The key elements and feature of the PAR process can be as follows:-

• It focuses on bringing change, actively engaging all people within a community to work towards this change.

• It is unique to a particular context as it revolves around unique needs within a particular group of people.

• It emphasises teamwork and active collaboration, where researchers and participants work together to analyse a problem situation and generate actions to solve the problem.

• It is an interactive process involving actions and constant reflection during the process.

• It creates awareness among participants about their current situation and the need to take action to create change.

The Change Maker

The participative method works on a premise that issues are best solved when there is an open and genuine dialogue and negotiation between all individuals related to the issue.  In contrast to the normal mode wherein the adults (or formators) offer answers to the children (or formees), the participative mode empowers the child/formee to find his or her own solution.  It provides space, time and a level ground for everyone, especially the child/formee, to participate in decision-making in matters related to its own well-being. This rests on the conviction that everyone, even a child, is capable of decision-making and that needs to be respected. The end result of PAR is a change in the attitudes of those in leadership roles. 

parental lov

Parental Love – Tales of Love and Struggle

The love of parents towards their children is always unconditional and transcends all boundaries. And a parent's love for their child; no matter a test score, a life changing decision, an argument, or a strong belief, the amount of love that remains between this bond is seen as unchanging. Before we explore into the depths of this concept, I would like to put before you two stories. They are tales of both, love and hardships.

The Bright Side

In the month of June, we rescued three boys who were used by their parents to sell few small scale handicrafts and bangles in the capital city. Hailing from Mumbai, the family had no idea that Trivandrum is a 100% child labour & beggary free district.

For the past one and a half months, the children have been under our care and protection. But it has definitely not been easy for their parents. The latter have been knocking every door and running from pillar to post requesting the release of their children.  Even after our assurance that the children would be produced before CWC and transferred to their hometown; both the father and mother were relentless in asking for their children. According to them, without the boys, they had absolutely no reason to live.

We even received a phone call from a representative of a prominent nationalist political party in Mumbai enquiring about the details of the children and asking for their swift restoration. Last week, the formal procedures for the transfer were complete. All three of them, are now reunited safe and sound with their parents. 

The Dark Side

Two days back, CHILDLINE got a call from a desperate mother pleading help for her child Bobby (given name). We visited the home, conducted a home study and asked both the child and her mother to come down to our office the very day.  As per the mother’s statement, Bobby (9^th Std) has developed a chronic severe addiction to both smoking and substance abuse. He’s irregular at school and loves to hang around all day with his friends. She’s a single mother as her husband abandoned the family, when the boy was five. Working at a pharmacy, she earns enough to take care of the family. The child’s addiction and related mood swings have been the center point of several disputes between the mother and child. Fed up with the arguments, she called up CHILDLINE informing the issue.

Upon further probing, we came to a sad conclusion. The mother did love her child, but was not ready to take up the responsibility. The boy has been deprived of his mother’s love and affection from a tender age. This has scarred the boy’s mind quite deeply. This also led to some mental health issues as well. And there began Bobby’s gradual fall into drugs. Being a single mother definitely has its fair share of fights and struggles to be won.

But the mother insisted us to take in the boy, provide him scholarship and get him away from drugs. But when we suggested an option of letting him stay home and go on with the process, she was hell bent against it. The mother believed that the boy was too hard to handle. She definitely loved and cared for her child, but the pressure was a bit too much.

Children in single-parent families

The effects of a single-parent home on a child’s behaviour can be far-reaching and impact several areas of life, including academic achievement and social behaviours.

·         Emotional effects of growing up in a single parent household may include feelings of abandonment, sadness, loneliness and difficulty socializing and connecting with others. 

·         Most single-parent households are run by mothers, and the absence of a father -- coupled with lower household income -- can increase the risk of children performing poorly in school. 

·         It is often difficult to contains growing male children especially y for a single mother.

Although Single parenting can have positive effects on children as well, but depends purely on other factors such as personality types and parenting techniques.

1000 days to get it right for every child

The early years are critical for optimal child development and the realisation of the child’s full potential as a loving, socially engaged, well-educated and trained adult, contributing to national social and economic life at their full potential.

Children in their first years of life are the most vulnerable to the long term damaging consequences of deprivation from love, affection and proper nutrition. Deprivation impacts upon child development through the inability to access needed goods and services (including healthcare); through disruption and stress of family life; and through social alienation.

Significance of Breastfeeding in bonding between mother and baby: - Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby. It stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well which help in uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behaviour and also bonding between mother and offspring.

Recommendations

We believe that a positive, social and economically sustainable future for our country is only possible if:-

·         Children are placed at the centre of government policy and planning Child poverty is eradicated

·         Child maltreatment is reduced

·         Every child is given a good start in their early years

·         The status of children as well as the child-rearing roles of families, educational institutions, care homes, etc are increased.

Access to affordable early childhood education is a critical form of public investment leading to positive returns from good child outcomes. For vulnerable children this will be more effective when combined with support and education that enables parents to be involved and also up skill themselves.

According to Robert Firestone Ph.D. (The Human Experience) Parental love includes genuine expressions of warmth—a smile or friendly look that conveys empathy and good humour; physical affection; respectful, considerate treatment; tenderness; a willingness to be a real person with the child as opposed to acting the role of “mother” or “father"; and a sensitive attunement and responsiveness to the child.

To conclude, children whose parents have, for the most part, resolved their issues of trauma and loss from the past have a better chance. Regaining the feeling for themselves seemed to be the key element that enabled them to enjoy closer, more sensitively attuned interactions with their children and altered their child-rearing practices in a more loving, positive direction. Parenting is about being the best mother or father; one can be to his/her kids. Sometimes it's simple. Other times, it might not be what we anticipated or imagined. But not willing to take that risk is never an excuse.