Judy Kihumba

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Judy Kihumba (born 20th century, Nieri, Kenya) is a Kenyan Sign Language Interpreter who works to provide basic health information, especially related to mental health, to deaf breastfeeding mothers. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World in 2022. [1]

Contents

Work and activism

Kihumba majored in sign language because it was the only course she could afford working as a maid, doing cleaning tasks in a house. Kihumba decided to deepen her knowledge in this field at the University of Nairobi, in the Kenyan capital. She graduated with a degree in communication for development at Saint Paul University and obtained a Diploma in Trauma Counseling from the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors. [2]

Kihumba started working at United Disability Empowerment Kenya, where she delved into the sphere of disabilities. [3] In 2010, she was part of a committee of experts to raise awareness for the country's new constitution. This activity allowed her to get to know the deaf communities in the country very well. Since then, she has worked as a sign language interpreter on television, [4] and in religious ceremonies. [5]

Kihumba had postpartum depression in 2019 after the birth of her second daughter. [6] From that event, she became aware of the importance of mental health education, and when she saw that some hospitals in Kenya did not have sign language interpreters to provide basic health information to deaf breastfeeding mothers, she decided to work in this area. [7] In 2020 she founded "Talking Hands, Listening Eyes on Postpartum Depression - THLEP". [8]

Recognition

Kihumba was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World in 2022. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postpartum depression</span> Mood disorder experienced after childbirth

Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder experienced after childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns. PPD can also negatively affect the newborn child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postpartum period</span> Time period beginning after the birth of a child and extending for about one month

The postpartum period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to last for six weeks. However, there are three distinct but continuous phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the subacute phase, lasting six weeks; and the delayed phase, lasting up to six months. During the delayed phase, some changes to the genitourinary system take much longer to resolve and may result in conditions such as urinary incontinence. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the postnatal period as the most critical and yet the most neglected phase in the lives of mothers and babies; most maternal and newborn deaths occur during this period.

Kenyan Sign Language is a sign language used by the deaf community in Kenya and Somalia. It is used by over half of Kenya's estimated 600,000 deaf population. There are some dialect differences between Kisumu, Mombasa and Somalia.

Sex after pregnancy is often delayed for several weeks or months, and may be difficult and painful for women. Painful intercourse is the most common sexual activity-related complication after childbirth. Since there are no guidelines on resuming sexual intercourse after childbirth, the postpartum patients are generally advised to resume sex when they feel comfortable to do so. Injury to the perineum or surgical cuts (episiotomy) to the vagina during childbirth can cause sexual dysfunction. Sexual activity in the postpartum period other than sexual intercourse is possible sooner, but some women experience a prolonged loss of sexual desire after giving birth, which may be associated with postnatal depression. Common issues that may last more than a year after birth are greater desire by the man than the woman, and a worsening of the woman's body image.

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER) is a condition in which women who breastfeed develop negative emotions that begin just before the milk ejection reflex and last less than a few minutes. It is different from postpartum depression, breastfeeding aversion response (BAR), or a dislike of breastfeeding. It has been described anecdotally many times, yet one of the earliest case studies on the condition was only published in 2011, and not much research was done prior to that. Even in 2021 when the first review of published literature was done the authors noted that health care providers were still "barely [able to] recognize D-MER."

Canadian Hearing Services was founded in 1940 to provide services for deaf and hard of hearing people in Ontario. Services include instruction in American and Quebec sign languages, interpreter services, deafblind intervenors, audiology and speech–language pathology. The CHS advocates for the hearing impaired in Canada through the support of 9-1-1 texting, visual fire alarms, and access to the justice system. The CHS handles emergency situations in hospitals, emergency rooms, after-hours clinics, shelters, and police services.

Parental leave is regulated in the United States by US labor law and state law. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for parents of newborn or newly adopted children if they work for a company with 50 or more employees. As of October 1, 2020, the same policy has been extended to caregivers of sick family members, or a partner in direct relation to the birth of the child therefore responsible for the care of the mother. Although 12 weeks are allowed to them, on average American fathers only take 10 days off, due to financial need. Beginning in 2020, California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island required paid parental leave to employees, including those a part of 50 or less employees. There is no paid paternity leave in the United States currently.

Antenatal depression, also known as prenatal or perinatal depression, is a form of clinical depression that can affect a woman during pregnancy, and can be a precursor to postpartum depression if not properly treated. It is estimated that 7% to 20% of pregnant women are affected by this condition. Any form of prenatal stress felt by the mother can have negative effects on various aspects of fetal development, which can cause harm to the mother and child. Even after birth, a child born from a depressed or stressed mother feels the affects. The child is less active and can also experience emotional distress. Antenatal depression can be caused by the stress and worry that pregnancy can bring, but at a more severe level. Other triggers include unplanned pregnancy, difficulty becoming pregnant, history of abuse, and economic or family situations.

George Albert Omore Magoha was a Kenyan consultant surgeon, academic administrator and technocrat, who served as a Professor of Surgery at Maseno University's School of Medicine, in Kisumu County as from 17 January 2023 till his death.

Smriti Nagpal is an Indian television presenter, sign language interpreter, and social entrepreneur. She worked for the Doordarshan network where she presented the morning news bulletin for the hearing impaired. She is the founder of Atulyakala, an organisation promoting deaf education and awareness of sign language. Nagpal has also co-founded the Hearken Café in Shahpur Jat, which is run by deaf employees. She is an advocate of Indian Sign Language. Nagpal was included in the BBC's 100 Women series in 2015, in the "30 Under 30" entrepreneur category, In 2016, Nagpal received the Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Award in the Youth Category, presented at International Civil Society Week in Bogotá, Colombia.

Deaf mental health care is the providing of counseling, therapy, and other psychiatric services to people who are deaf and hard of hearing in ways that are culturally aware and linguistically accessible. This term also covers research, training, and services in ways that improve mental health for deaf people. These services consider those with a variety of hearing levels and experiences with deafness focusing on their psychological well-being. The National Association of the Deaf has identified that specialized services and knowledge of the Deaf increases successful mental health services to this population. States such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama have specialized Deaf mental health services. The Alabama Department of Mental Health has established an office of Deaf services to serve the more than 39,000 deaf and hard of hearing person who will require mental health services.

Paternal depression is a psychological disorder derived from parental depression. Paternal depression affects the mood of men; fathers and caregivers in particular. 'Father' may refer to the biological father, foster parent, social parent, step-parent or simply the carer of the child. This mood disorder exhibits symptoms similar to postpartum depression (PPD) including anxiety, insomnia, irritability, consistent breakdown and crying episodes, and low energy. This may negatively impact family relationships and the upbringing of children. Parents diagnosed with parental depression often experience increased stress and anxiety levels during early pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Those with parental depression may have developed it early on but some are diagnosed later on from when the child is a toddler up until a young adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breastfeeding and mental health</span>

Breastfeeding and mental health is the relationship between postpartum breastfeeding and the mother's and child's mental health. Research indicates breastfeeding may have positive effects on the mother's and child's mental health, though there have been conflicting studies that question the correlation and causation of breastfeeding and maternal mental health. Possible benefits include improved mood and stress levels in the mother, lower risk of postpartum depression, enhanced social emotional development in the child, stronger mother-child bonding and more. Given the benefits of breastfeeding, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission for Public Health (ECPH) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Despite these suggestions, estimates indicate 70% of mothers breastfeed their child after birth and 13.5% of infants in the United States are exclusively breastfed. Breastfeeding promotion and support for mothers who are experiencing difficulties or early cessation in breastfeeding is considered a health priority.

Disability in Uruguay is often described historically and culturally by the medical model of disability. Much of current government policy surrounds the use of trained and paid caregivers for people with severe disabilities and many people who need assistive devices have not been able to access these.

Cindy-Lee E. Dennis is a Canadian professor in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She holds the Women's Health Research Chair at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital. Previously she held the Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health at the University of Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizzie Kiama</span> Kenyan disability rights activist

Lizzie Kiama is a Kenyan disability rights activist. She is the founder and managing trustee of This Ability Trust, a Kenyan disability rights organization.

Though official statistics are not available, the Danish Deaf Association estimates that there are currently about 5,000 deaf users of Danish Sign Language, which is equivalent to nearly 0.1% of the country's population. As many as 20,000 people are thought to use the language daily in their professional or personal life.

The Filipino Sign Language (FSL) is the official language of education for deaf Filipinos, which number around 121,000 as of 2000.

References

  1. "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News" . Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  2. Kawira, Yvonne (2021-08-26). "They cannot hear babies cry: Nairobi woman helps deaf moms cater to newborns". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  3. Mahugu, Jacqueline. "Eve's top 12 women achievers of 2022". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  4. "Judy Kihumba: From househelp to top sign language interpreter". 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  5. Nyeti, Swala. "Judy Kihumba: Sign language interpreter's passion for mental health" . Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  6. "Kenyan Interpreter, Ghanaian Writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah And Rwandan Referee Salima Mukansanga On BBC 100 Women List - The Sauce" . Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  7. Nyeti, Swala. "Judy Kihumba: Sign language interpreter's passion for mental health" . Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  8. 1 2 "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News" . Retrieved 2023-01-23.