Doctor says multiple barriers in the way of children's health - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

According to an international survey, the United States ranks 34th on a list of places to have a baby.

Today, one man told Siouxland doctors why.

President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Robert Block, says that far too many U.S. children experience either some or all of the following, "toxic stress," poverty, and violence at home.

According to Dr. Block, eliminating those barriers in the first two years of a child's life is especially important since they can have significant influences on their adult health.

The barriers don't stand alone either.

Dr. Block says you have to think of cause and effect.

"You can't stay healthy if you're not educated. You can't be educated if you're not healthy. There's no way to separate those. And those two things together, then surrounded by the issue of adversity and toxic stress and the community and the family would be the areas we need to focus on," said Dr. Robert Block, American Academy of Pediatrics President.

Local healthcare officials agree that a child's education is closely linked with their health.

But, getting the education a child need all starts with the parents.

"It's always been known that the parents are the biggest teachers, and we can't rely on the teachers to be the only one to teach the kids," said Dr. Pat Beck, Prairie Pediatrics.

"The parenting is the most important piece of raising a healthy, happy child," said Priscilla Stokes, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.

Without a change, Doctor Block is afraid of not only more economic downturn but a lack of a sustainable work force as well.