THE Lagos State government has explained why it institutionalised maternity and paternity leave for the parents of the first two babies given birth to by its female and male employees.
“It is part of government’s intervention aimed at addressing the adverse effects of maternal deprivation among families in the Centre of Excellence”, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi has said.
She spoke at the Annual Faculty Day Lecture of the Faculty of Public Health, National Post-graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the implementation of the paternity and maternity leave was premised on research findings on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and bonding.
Her words: “In full realisation of the public health burden of maternal deprivation on child health and mental health, Lagos State Government has designed relevant policies and programmes which address the promotion of family support activities.
“The government, is determined to protect, promote and restore the health of Lagosians and facilitate their unfettered access to quality health care services without financial or other barriers. As stated in its development plan (LSDP) 2012-2025, the state hopes to reduce the prevalence and burden of socio-cultural pathologies arising from maternal deprivation.
“The government is committed to the establishment of skills and empowerment centres for youths and the vulnerable. It will also implement the Child Rights’ and Adoption Laws through the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youths, Sports and Social Development. This will help in alleviating the negative effects of psycho-social problems caused by maternal deprivation.”
Mrs. Osunkiyesi noted that the topic of the annual lecture, entitled “Maternal Deprivation: A Socio-Cultural Pathology” is intriguing and bears direct relevance to contemporary socio-cultural issues in Nigeria.
She added that maternal deprivation due to death, illness and abandonment results in acute anxiety, depression and character instability. These result from emerging psycho-social issues such as rape, crime, suicides and suicidal attempts, juvenile delinquency, emotional difficulties and anti-social behaviour, adversely affect the livability of our cities.
“The topic should also be viewed from the perspective of dysfunctional childhood development and the pivotal roles mothers or primary care-givers play in achieving optimal socialisation of their children or wards,” she said.
She further explained that the term “maternal deprivation” is a catchy-phrase which summarises the life-long research of a psychiatrist and psycho-analyst; John Bowlby on the effects of separating infants and young children from their mothers or mother substitutes.
She added that the psychiatrists and psycho-analysts have postulated that the relationship between the infant and its mother during the first two years of a child’s life are the most critical time for bonding.
Osunkiyesi noted that infants and children must form close relationships with a single primary care-giver for healthy development, adding that in most cases, the attachment is with the mother.
According to her, the strategies and programmes geared towards reducing the prevalence and burden of socio- cultural pathologies arising from maternal deprivation must be evidence-based, explaining that maternal deprivation which may be either physical or emotional could be due to death, illness or abandonment.
Besides, it could also be as mild as in trusted foster homes, partial; where mother or mother substitute was unable to provide the required loving care, or complete; as in crèches, hospitals and other institutions.
Mrs. Osunkiyesi posited that children who are cared for physically but lack social interaction and physical contact with their primary care-giver often exhibit many of the same symptoms as children who have been denied contact altogether.
She noted that the deleterious effects of maternal deprivation range from acute anxiety, depression and character instability to crippled capacity for relationships; adding that, as teenagers and adults, individuals suffering from maternal deprivation can be more aggressive, display emotion-affective psychopathy and more prone to depression.
The Guest lecturer, Prof. Adefunke Oyemade listed that the long-term consequences of maternal deprivation as delinquency, reduced intelligence with resultant poor scholastic performance and inability to show affection or concern for others.
She stated that prolonged deprivation beginning early in life and lasting for as long as three years usually has serious adverse effects on physical, mental and social development, stressing that the effects may be reversed if relief from deprivation is instituted early enough.
The guest lecturer pointed out that many mothers can hardly fulfill children’s need for love, understanding; patience, consistency for fairness, good and companionship because of their numerous social obligations and gainful employment which takes them outside their homes.
“Deprivation is not an inevitable result of mother-child separation. It may occur in the presence of the mother and may be relieved in her absence. It is evident that deprived children in institutions have not the same opportunities as those living in their own homes. Supportive measure to families should aim to reduce number placed in institutions,” she said.
