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Health and poverty
Health and poverty are inextricably linked. People living in poverty face a significantly higher risk of illness and a lower life expectancy. At the same time, illness can drive families into poverty when medical costs eat up their entire income. This vicious circle affects billions of people worldwide, but particularly children in need. A lack of medical care, malnutrition, contaminated water and unsanitary living conditions make children in poor regions vulnerable to diseases that have long since been eradicated in wealthy countries. The impact of poverty on children is particularly evident in their health. Investment in healthcare is therefore not only a humanitarian imperative, but also makes economic sense, as healthy people can work, learn and help their communities to progress.
The link between poverty and health
Poverty leads to ill health, and ill health leads to poverty. This link has been demonstrated in numerous studies and manifests itself in many different ways. People living in poverty have limited access to clean water, a balanced diet and adequate housing. Yet these basic needs are essential for good health.
Life expectancy varies dramatically between poor and rich countries. In some African countries, it is under 60 years, whilst in wealthy nations it exceeds 80 years. This difference of more than 20 years is primarily due to preventable diseases.
Children living in poverty are particularly vulnerable. Their mortality rate is significantly higher than that of children from affluent families. Around 5 million children die each year before their fifth birthday from causes linked to poverty – infections, diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition and complications during childbirth.
Chronic stress caused by poverty weakens the immune system. People in precarious living situations are constantly exposed to stressors: uncertainty about food, housing and income. This toxic stress weakens the body’s defences and makes people more susceptible to illness.
Hauptgesundheitsprobleme in Armut
The health challenges in poor regions differ significantly from those in wealthy countries. Whilst chronic diseases are the main concern in the latter, people in poor regions struggle with acute infections and malnutrition.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and diarrhoeal diseases kill millions of people every year. Whilst these diseases are rare or easily treatable in wealthy countries, they are often fatal in poor regions.
Malaria primarily affects children in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 400,000 people die from it every year, most of them children under the age of five. Yet malaria could be significantly reduced through the use of mosquito nets, medication and environmental measures.
Diarrhoeal diseases, usually caused by contaminated water, kill around 500,000 children every year. These deaths are entirely preventable through access to clean water, sanitation and oral rehydration solution.
malnutrition
Around 150 million children worldwide suffer from chronic malnutrition, which leads to stunted growth. Malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life – from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday – causes irreversible physical and mental damage.
Malnourished children have weakened immune systems and fall ill more often. They develop more slowly, remain smaller in stature and experience learning difficulties later on at school. A lack of micronutrients such as iron, iodine and vitamin A has a massive impact on their development.
Fehlende Gesundheitsversorgung
In many poor regions, there are no medical facilities, or they are inadequate. Hospitals and health centres are often far away, poorly equipped and understaffed. Medicines are unaffordable or unavailable.
Preventive measures such as vaccinations do not reach many children. Yet vaccinations could prevent millions of deaths. Pregnant women often do not receive antenatal care, which leads to complications during childbirth.
Health consequences for children
The effects of poverty on children are clearly evident in their health and have an impact on their overall development and future.
Children in need suffer from various health problems:
- Higher infant and child mortality rates
- Chronic infections and parasitic diseases
- Growth delays caused by malnutrition
- Developmental delays and cognitive impairments
The early years of life are crucial for healthy development. Children who suffer from malnutrition or serious illnesses during this period often never catch up. Their physical and mental development remains permanently impaired.
Chronic illnesses in childhood affect overall quality of life. Children with untreated health problems are unable to attend school regularly, struggle to concentrate and fall behind. This undermines their educational prospects and future career opportunities.
Ways to improve
Improving health conditions in poor regions is possible and has yielded measurable results. Development aid in the health sector saves lives and enables sustainable development.
Basic healthcare includes setting up health centres, training medical staff and supplying medicines. Mobile clinics reach remote areas. Community health workers bring basic healthcare directly to families.
Prevention programmes are particularly effective:
- Vaccination campaigns have saved the lives of millions of children
- The distribution of mosquito nets drastically reduces malaria
- Vitamin A supplementation boosts children’s immune systems
- Hygiene training courses teach simple, life-saving measures
Nutrition programmes tackle malnutrition by providing supplementary food for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children. School meals ensure that children receive at least one nutritious meal a day. Education on balanced nutrition helps families to live healthier lives despite limited resources.
Water and sanitation projects help prevent many diseases. Access to clean water and toilets reduces infections by up to 50 per cent.
Donations to health projects have multiple benefits. They save lives in emergencies, prevent illness and enable people to be productive. Healthy children can learn, and healthy adults can work and provide for their families.
Improving health is key to tackling poverty. Investing in local healthcare is investing in the future of entire communities. Every child’s life saved and every illness prevented is a step towards greater justice and equality of opportunity.