#Family

SPEAK WEDNESDAY

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY UNIT IN THE SOCIETY

A family is a basic unit of study in many medical and social science disciplines. Definitions of the family have varied from country to country, and also within the country all attempting to either include or exclude certain characteristics to better portray the universal concept. The UN however gives a simplified definition of the Family as “those members of the household who are related to a specified degree, through blood, adoption or marriage.” The family as an integrated and functional unit of society has for a considerable period of time captured the attention and imagination of researchers. Reflection of the interaction system between individual and family, family and society as well as the specific activities that meet certain needs of its members is what we refer to as the function of the family. The family as a social institution is organically connected with society, and therefore some functions directly related to the requirements of the society itself. (Elizabeth. S., 2018). A functional understanding of the family thus stresses how the family as a social institution helps make society possible. As such, the family performs several important functions.

Firstly, the family is the primary unit for socializing children. No society is possible without adequate socialization of its young. In most societies, the family is the major unit in which socialization happens. Parents, siblings, etc., all help socialize children from the time they are born. It is the character developed in the family that helps the child in becoming an important or responsible member of society. Psychologists opine that the absence of family affection has a serious impact on a child’s development and inadvertently the society’s development and way of life. Secondly, the household (economic) function of the family is also amongst the most important. It is aimed at satisfying its material needs (food, shelter, etc). The function contributes to the physical strengths and health preservation of all family group members. Thirdly, the family provides its members with a social identity. Children are born into their parents’ social class, race and ethnicity, religion, and so forth. Some children have advantages throughout life because of the social identity they acquire from their parents, while others face many obstacles because the social class or race/ethnicity into which they are born is at the bottom of the social hierarchy. (UMN, 2016).

Family life is very multifaceted. Each function of the family is social. The social nature of the family is determined primarily by the fact that the family is the unit of society first of all. As a result of family functions, the vital needs not only of family members but also of society as a whole are satisfied. The International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) states that No entity can fully replace the functions families perform for the benefit of their members and the good of society. “The family is the most powerful, the most humane and, by far, the most economical system known for building competence and character.”

The Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) is committed to the promotion of health and protection of the well-being of families in Africa. We are driven by a vision of healthy families, healthy societies. Over the years, through funded projects and individual donations we have deployed several community-driven and family centred health interventions, encompassing socio-economic empowerment of women and youths – assisting them to take care of their families. Some of these projects include providing women with non-interest loans and startup kits, provision of educational and medical support, food items, skill acquisition and startup kit to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) children, maternal and child health trainings for pregnant and lactating mothers, amongst many others.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more interesting episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST – MAY 25, 2020

COVID-19, Gender, Health, Sanitation / cfhinitiative

SAFETY MEASURES FOR CHILDREN DURING LOCKDOWN

Children witness families struggling with government lock downs that prevent their parents from earning a living and bringing their education to a stand-still. It is important to keep the children busy at home so they can adhere to the lock down rules and still have a stable mental health.

Children can do the following to keep themselves busy at home

Talk on the phone or do a video call with family and friends
Text or use other messaging apps to talk with family and friends.
Play online games that let them play with other kids from home.
Exercise daily
Trying out new skills and reading new books/story books

Important safety precautions at home to help prevent infection and spread of COVID-19 in children includes:

Regular hand washing with soap and running water
Regular laundry of their wears
Disinfecting frequently used surfaces such as doorknobs, switch, toys, remote, sink handles, etc
Adequate nutrition such as lots of fruits and vegetables to help build their immune system.
Avoid self-medication. When a child is noticed to have developed any symptom of ill health, visit a health facility.

Important safety precautions at the health facilities during the pandemic

Collaborate to ensure child-friendly health facilities/access to health care, including guidance for health staff on child-friendly communication and special measures to support children’s psycho-social well-being when undergoing treatment and quarantine.
Support child safeguarding training for health workers (particularly where children are separated from their families or caregivers).
Establish safe, child-friendly complaints and feedback mechanisms in health care facilities.
Strengthen capacity on clinical management of rape (CMR) and ensure minimum CMR supplies are available in key facilities to appropriately respond to sexual violence.
Collaborate on mental health and psycho-social support care and messaging for children and caregivers affected by COVID-19.
Collaborate to ensure child-friendly hand-washing stations are available at health facilities, schools, childcare centres, alternative care centres, and other locations children are likely to visit.

Psychologists and economists have considered parenting style such as how warm, strict, or communicative a parent is, is an important determinant of a child’s skills. During a period of home schooling, parents will try to enforce rules and boundaries so that their children can learn. However, harsh parenting including shouting at or smacking children particularly when the socio-emotional skills of children are low, will exacerbate children’s behavioral and emotional problems. Instead, moving to a more sensitive style of parenting can help close the socio-emotional gaps observed across children. Policy makers should also ensure that information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, including information on available services, are produced, and displayed with limited text in child-friendly versions.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Women / cfhinitiative

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – GENDER THEORIES PART 3

(OBJECT RELATIONS THEORY)

According to Object Relations Theory, humans are birthed with an inbuilt capacity to make and sustain relationships and to socialize in their various environment. Once a baby makes his/her first entry into the world, the innate capacity begins to develop immediately he meets “the object”. The object is usually an interior image of one who constantly cares for the infant. In most cases, the first object is the child’s mother. Other objects are the father or guardian who take up parenting responsibilities.

Sάndor Ferenczi initiated the first idea of the Object Relations Theory, followed by other scholars in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s who extended the theory. However, in 1952, Ronald Fairbairn popularized his theory of Object Relations. These scholars who have contributed to the development of the theory are trying to explicate the role of “the object” in the development of a child psyche.

The theory proposes that family incidences as infants grow tend to structure the way people socialize with others in their environment. Experiences in adulthood may alter the individual’s personality but the impact from “the object” during childhood still greatly influences the person even as he/she grows older. Children raised in a home ravaged by Gender Based Violence tend to be aggressive as adults and see violence as normal in every home or develop low self-esteem. These positive and negative incidences shapen their character and behavior consciously or unconsciously.

Ronald Fairbairn believes that the first object (mother) plays a key role in the formation of a child’s character. Therefore, emphasizing the importance of raising children in a healthy environment. A mother takes care of her children and unconsciously her children begin to form character from the things they watch her do and say. Mothers’ Day is celebrated not just because a mother cares for her children but because the society understands that a mother plays a key role in producing either bad or patriotic citizens.

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