Early years

Early years

Primary school years

Primary school years

Adolescence

Adolescence

 

Early years

© UNICEF/GEO-2004/00152/Giacomo Pirozzi

Nino, 20, with her 4 months daughter Mariam at the UNICEF supported Mother and Child’s Shelter at the Infant’s House. October 2004, Tbilisi, Georgia.

 

Little George was abandoned in a Tbilisi rubbish dump immediately after his birth. He was found in a dirty bin and taken to the hospital, but it was too late…George died a few days later. The news shocked and angered the Georgian public.

Unfortunately, this is a Georgian reality—there are many other infants in Georgia regularly abandoned by their parents. Some infants are simply left on the streets, while the ‘luckiest’ of them are brought to institutions by desperate and needy families. The reason is well known—poverty.

Another challenge that Georgian children face in their early years is that of quality health care.

Children and their families have limited access to quality health services. This remains the main contributive cause to the majority of maternal and child health related problems. The number of children dying during their neonatal period has risen since 1998.

Thanks to the success of the Immunization Programme, children in Georgia are now more effectively protected against six major preventable diseases. However, misconceptions about routine immunization among parents and some health workers, as well as low immunization coverage in remote areas, still remain a prominent concern.
Breastfeeding rates in maternity wards have remained consistent at about 97 per cent, though the exclusive breastfeeding rate stands at 18 per cent for four months. The majority of mothers stop breastfeeding during the child’s first two months of life, citing insufficient milk as the main reason.  This points to the need for educating parents on early child care and for ensuring the availability of skilled health personnel to assist mothers on child care issues.

The nutritional status of children in Georgia appears favorable by international standards, despite persistently high poverty rates and inadequate food supplies in many families. Micronutrient deficiencies remain prevalent due to an unbalanced food intake and limited food fortification. 40 per cent of children continue to be affected by iodine deficiency.

Preschool enrolment has declined in recent years to less than one-third. Family decisions to not to send their children to preschool typically generate from both a desire to care for young children at home and from insufficient financial resources to cover hidden and informal preschool payments—nearly 40 per cent of children lack access to a preschool education.

Families are the first line of defense for children, but financial strain and low awareness of appropriate child-rearing practices leave many Georgian families with minimal capacity to protect their children.