Subscribe to the IDB´s First Steps Blog to keep up-to-date with the latest publications and discussions on child development. by Filipa de Castro and Betania Allen-Leigh What do we know about teen pregnancy in Mexico? In Mexico, 31.2% of teen girls ages 15 to 19 are sexually active [link in Spanish], and over half (56%) of them have been pregnant. An increase in … [Read more...] about Teen Pregnancy in Mexico
Pope Francis Supports Breastfeeding
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division Jorge Mario Bergoglio is 77 years old. He was born in Flores, a typically middle-class neighborhood of Buenos Aires, and is a fan of San Lorenzo, my favorite soccer team (after Boca, that is!). On March 13 [link in Spanish], he celebrated his first anniversary in an office that has made him one of the most … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Supports Breastfeeding
Training the Brain to Lift Toddlers Out of Poverty
by Elizabeth Norton It's a sad fact that children born in poverty start out at a disadvantage and continue to fall further behind kids who are more privileged as they grow up. In developing countries, chiefly in Africa and Asia, some 200 million children under age 5 won't reach the same milestones—for physical growth, school performance, and earnings later on—as children who … [Read more...] about Training the Brain to Lift Toddlers Out of Poverty
“What a Drag! I Have a Parent Meeting at My Kid’s Preschool.”
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Patricia Jara This is a common reaction from parents who are less than enthusiastic about getting involved at the child care center that their children attend. Considering how important it is for the family to be actively involved in the child’s development from an early age, we need to rethink the … [Read more...] about “What a Drag! I Have a Parent Meeting at My Kid’s Preschool.”
One in Five Mexican Women Presents Symptoms of Maternal Depression
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Filipa de Castro and Jean Marie Place Both in Mexico and on a global scale, depression is the main threat to mothers’ mental health, especially in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability and marginalization [link in Spanish]. Several studies indicate that depression is preventable, detectable and … [Read more...] about One in Five Mexican Women Presents Symptoms of Maternal Depression