specific needs of children and elderly left behind as a ... - IOM Moldova

CHAPTER I
For children’s proper physical and psychological development, it is
necessary to maintain a proper diet with nutritional balance adequate
to their age. This is crucial for ensuring a child’s health. As children are
deprived of parental care and monitoring, malnutrition represents a real
threat to the development of serious diseases in the future.
The study revealed that very many children do not eat an adequate or
balanced diet in accordance to the necessary nutrition needs vitally
important for a growing child. Even when they get money from their
parents, children do not possess sufficient knowledge of healthy food
and they choose to consume low-quality products that can harm their
health. A disordered diet and nutrient deficiency may lead to the development
of many diseases.
• Behaviour of risk to health. Developing skills in sexual education of
children left behind
During the development and socialization period, children may be at
risk of being influenced in adopting behaviours harmful to their health
such as drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, etc., especially when
there is poor contact between the children and the persons who are
looking after them. Such situations can have different causes: children
are cared for by the elderly; the parent who remained in the country
does not have time; children live with persons who show no affection
or interest in them.
Therefore, the harmful behaviour developed by children providing can
be avoided through vigilant monitoring by adults. The absence of parental
control makes children prone to vicious behaviour that, in their opinion,
gets them closer to adult life. “I smoke occasionally. When my parents
were home I didn’t smoke. I decided to smoke for fun. I didn’t tell my parents,
I will quit anyway” (FG_C_1_urban).
While conducting the study we were surprised by the opinion of a 15 year
old boy whose parents work abroad and who has been living with his
mother’s and father’s brothers for a year and a half–two young people of
20 years old. The child told us shamefully: “We may have some wine at
our table in absolutely normal quantities” (FG_C_1_urban). Unfortunately,
we could not assess the quantities of wine that would be “absolutely normal”
according to the minor. It has been scientifically proven however that
even the smallest quantities have a serious harmful effect on the health of
a growing child.
The specialists employed within the education system confirmed that a
lack of parental control over children’s lifestyle and behaviour induces
a high risk of and increases their vulnerability to adopt behaviours
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