Post-natal influence that cause handicap in children

Source

Post-natal influences are those conditions which affects the child after birth and that result in handicap. Such post-natal influences include;

• Childhood disease such as whooping cough, chicken pox and jaundice.
• Blows to the head
• Harsh climate conditions
• Poisonous and chemicals when taken in error
• Accidents
• Social and environmental conditions - A child from poor home will not have television, book and enough play materials for stimulation.
• Slaps to the eye or ear
• Marriage between in compatible (e.g carriers of sickle cell trace) couple.
• River blindness - when bitten by a tiny black fly carrier
• Self medication

Prevention of handicap
You can help in the prevention that could cause handicapping condition pre- and post-natal influences. Some ways of preventing handicap are

• Genetic counseling- couples who are much older should be discouraged from having babies
• Self-medications should be discouraged
• Improved health care- improved health care and good medical attention for pregnant mother's and babies
• Encourage immunization of mother and babies
• Pregnant mother's should be encouraged to take balanced diet
• Children should be provided with Rich and stimulating environment.

The pre-natal influences that could result in handicapping conditions include;

• Genetic factors
• Malnutrition
• Drugs
• Poor health of pregnant mothers
• High blood pressure in pregnant mothers
• Prematurity of the baby
• Post maturity - when the baby over stays in the womb.