Socioeconomic status is the most powerful predictor of disease, disorder, injury and mortality we have.
FACTS:
* Poverty is a major determinant on an individual’s health status and health outcomes.
* Nearly ½ of the world’s population live on less than $2.50 per day
* Preventable diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia take the lives of millions of children each year who are too poor to afford proper treatment
* Children from single parent families or with one parent sick are three times more likely to live in poverty
Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor health and well being. Poor health can trap individuals, families and communities in poverty
· Poverty increases the chances of poor health
· Poor health increases the likelihood of poverty
1. Poor health as a cause of poverty
1.1 Recurring infectious and neglected tropical diseases such as malaria limits a person’s ability to:
* be able to financially care for themselves and their families
* removes the primary bread winner causing hardship
* restricts proper childhood development
* impacts on maternal health and birth weight
1.2 Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, respiratory diseases, mental health conditions and heart diseases are often preventable and treatable, are also the cause and a consequence of poverty.
* Poverty and an inability to provide can cause mental health conditions
* Sickness can reduce a person’s ability to make money and to care for the family unit
* Increased rises in medical expenses can cause a family to go without some of the basic human needs
* Poverty can impact on people’s food choices, leading to an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases
* Poor housing, indoor cooking and indoor mold can cause chronic respiratory conditions
2. Poor health as a consequence of poverty
Children from the poorest countries account for the largest percentage of preventable deaths.
2.1 Inadequate housing and poor living conditions
* Adequate housing provides protection against conditions such as tuberculosis, diarrhea and malaria
* Access to adequate water and sanitation protects individuals from cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A and polio
* Poor housing ventilation contributes towards respiratory conditions
* Indoor mold is a contributing factor is asthma development
* Inadequate housing allows for rats and bugs to dwell in the house
2.1 Environmental factors such as drought, cyclone and flooding in low-income earners can result in:
* financial hardship
* lack or limited variety of food
* inability to access health services
* likelihood of developing malnutrition
* inability to afford childhood education
* a need move family to a township in search of work
* repeated exposure to infections due to poor housing
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