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Special Theme: Develop a Child
The Importance of Child DevelopmentThe most critical stage in the life of each human being is the period up to age three. This is when the brain matures and personality develops, and when psychological and social patterns of bonding with primary caregivers and the community at large are established. Pregnancy and infancy are when the intersecting health and nutrition needs of women and children are greatest and those needs must be at the core of efforts to improve human development (see Box 1). The health of the mother is crucial for the health of the child. Strategies that care for the child and mother—including legal protection of her political, social, and economic rights—are more effective than approaches that focus exclusively on the child. Preparing for pregnancy (especially the first) is critical because antenatal conditions influence neural and metabolic development of the fetus, and establish a pattern for life. Small, undernourished mothers are likely to have premature or underweight children who will be stunted by age three. These children will experience developmental delays and mental impairment, and suffer chronic susceptibility to infections in infancy and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and heart disease in midlife.
In the later preschool years, social skills and early cognition are critical areas of development. Children lacking sufficient stimulation at home can benefit greatly from specialized programs in the early primary years, and poor children in many countries benefit from community-based programs that integrate food and health care in homes and community centers. Toddlers and older preschoolers thrive in early education programs when these are interactive and participatory, and develop skills for social engagement and cooperation. The early school years also provide an opportunity to correct health and nutrition problems that may impede learning, memory, reasoning, and achievement. 
Special attention has to be given to the girl child, whose physical growth, mental development, and level of education determine the quality of the next generation's children. Discrimination against girls can limit their access to adequate nutrition and health care, so that the small child eventually becomes a small mother, whose risk of dying in first pregnancy is 10 times greater than a woman of normal height and weight. The same order of risk applies to premature and small (less than 2,500 grams) babies in the first year of life. Concerted efforts are necessary to protect the health of the girl child through adolescence and young motherhood, recognizing that the potential of the child is related directly to the educational and social status of the mother. A recent study3 of 63 developing countries shows that a woman's educational achievement and social status are the main determinants of a child's nutrition, with food availability and environmental factors being less important. 
A woman's education and social status have a strong and positive impact on her child's survival and prospects. The educated and empowered Asian woman is the key to the survival, growth, mental acuity, and psychosocial development of young children. Improving her status sets in motion lifelong prospects for learning and earning with benefits to families, communities, and nations. Improving her nutrition and capacity to care for young children elevates the educational attainment of nations. Improving her education and social status lowers her fertility rate by encouraging early employment, later marriage, and longer birth spacing—all of which benefit the survival, growth, and development of her children. When family planning and reproductive health services respond to the needs of educated women, fertility declines further in response to changing perceptions of ideal family size. Mainstreaming gender concerns in social development programs is essential for success. ____________________
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