Effects of Traumatized Antenatal Mothers on Their Pre-School Children in Mt. Elgon Region, Kenya

Abstract

Foetus developmental vulnerability in pre-school children of traumatized antenatal mothers in Cheptais and Mount Elgon Sub-Counties, Bungoma County, Kenya. Is a study meant to establish the effects of trauma of the mother on the unborn child who was born and now is in pre-school level of education. Through observation by the mother during neonate, infant and childhood stages of developmental milestones in relation to the same observation of non-traumatized mothers’ children. The conclusion is supported by the observation of the same children by their teachers in pre-schools. The sampling strategy involved non-probability where purposive and snow-ball observation, analysis and probability, sampling where multistage or cluster was the most appropriate for observation and units of analysis to make units of representative sample of Cheptais and Mount Elgon sub-counties. This study is designed to assist the community and the society in general to understand the need to avoid any stressful situation by expectant Mothers. It is also meant to enlighten the society on the importance of taking care of their expectant Mothers and to desist from encouraging stressful environment. The study enabled the researcher to understand why there were increased number disabled children in the region. Whose conditions were seriously interfering with their academic work? Majority of the children born to traumatized mothers had developmental problems associated with disabilities as opposed to those mothers who resisted trauma; hence associating trauma with developmental problems of the children who were foetus at the of traumatizing episodes.

Keywords: Trauma, Developmental Problems, Foetus, Pre-School Children, Mothers, special needs with disabilities.