Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

I have recently read an article called South African study highlights importance of research involving children the talks about a clinical trial entailing a group infants that have been diagnosed with HIV. After receiving informed consent form their mothers the infants were place on a drug called early antiretroviral (ARV).

The article explains, “Initial results from the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral Therapy (CHER) study found a significant increase in survival among infants who received immediate ARV treatment. The trial started in July 2005 and is designed to continue through 201” (Keeton 2011). Furthermore, after a  “routine review by the trial’s data and safety monitoring board in June this year, found that of the 377 babies enrolled, 96% were alive in the early treatment group compared to 84% in the delayed treatment group. The results were so striking that the board recommended that no additional infants be placed in the delayed treatment group and all babies be evaluated for initiation of ARV treatment” (Keeton 2011).

The mother of this child, Zama, said: “I did it for the sake of my child after she tested [HIV] positive. I gave informed consent when she was six weeks old. She has had no complications on treatment and is doing fine.” (Keeton 2011).

Finally, “The World Health Organization (WHO) recently finalized the first list of essential medicines for children, which will be released in November. Dr Sue Hill, WHO’s technical expert on the list, said the limited availability of appropriate children’s medicines contributes to childhood mortality” (Keeton 2011).

This article is an example of a positive example of the effects of research on children and/or families. The benefits outweighed the risks to the child.

Keeton, Claire ()2011). World Health Organization. South African study highlights importance of research involving children. Bull World Health Organ. 2007 October; 85(10): 738–740. doi:  10.2471/BLT.07.021007 Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2636499/

Personal Research Journey

This class has helped me look a research criterion in different ways. I remember some of this information from undergraduate school, but this is the most recent information. Especially for electronic sources, this information is food know when taking an online class.  

When asked in the discussion assignment to t5hink about a topic that I want to learn more about, I knew instantly what the topic would be. The topic I would like to learn more about brain research and development. This topic has peaked my interest for some time. Brain development research has recently played an important part in the early childhood education field.

The reason I chose brain research is because I support a classroom rich in literacy, creative arts, and children work being displayed all over the classroom. I support these things because in supports brain development. The more neurons that are connected in a young child’s brain, the more successful the child is in school and life. For these reason I choose the topic of brain development and ways to support it in the classroom.

The subtopics I want to learn about include how play-based learning supports brain development in the classroom, how creative arts supports brain development among children, and ways to articulate the importance of play-based learning and how it affects brain development to parents.

A few quality resources on brain development include:

Starting Smart How Early Experiences Affect Brain Development retrieved from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/startingsmart.pdf?docID=2422

Children and Brain Development: What We Know About How Children Learn retrieved from http://umaine.edu/publications/4356e/

Why play-based learning? Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/every_child_magazine/every_child_index/why_play-based_learning.html