Poverty is the scarcity or the lack of a certain (variant) amount of material possessions or money. Poverty is a multifaceted concept, which may include social, economic, and political elements. Absolute Poverty, extreme poverty, or destitution refers to the complete lack of the means necessary to meet basic personal needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

Consequences of Poverty on Childhood Health

Research has shown that children living in low-income families or neighbourhoods in Canada have worse health outcomes, on average, than other children, as determined by a number of key indicators.

There are many consequences of poverty, one of them are the birth outcomes of infants. Infant mortality is the most basic indicator of societal health and well-being, given its sensitivity not only to levels of wealth. It is because during pregnancy, their mothers are likely to face multiple stressful life events, including lone-mother and teenage pregnancies, unemployment, more crowded or polluted physical environments, and far fewer resources to deal with these exposures.

Poverty defines ones lifestyle and behavior. No matter how you see it being in poverty affects the persons life in every aspect. Ways such as poor maternal nutrition and health practices, along with lack of timely prenatal care.

Strategies to Address Poverty

Poverty is a significant health concern. Considerable research evidence points to the negative impact of low socioeconomic status on child health including development and later adult health and well-being. To reduce poverty, families must have adequate income that can be provided through parental attachment to the labor force. The more time they spend working means the more money they would earn. This would work more if the government would decrease the costs of essential supports and services.

In addition to the parents will to earn money, the health sector, through its programs and services, must strive to mitigatae the negative health effects of poverty on families with a range of programs and services that support low-income families by promoting optimal child development and function.

References:

1. Devarajan S, Miller MJ, Swanson EV. Goals for development: History, prospects and costs. Policy research working paper 2819. 
2. Hack M, Klein NK, Taylor HGFuture Child. 1995 Spring; 5(1):176-96.
3. Shah P, Ohlsson A. Evidence Based Neonatal Care and Outcomes Research. Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital. Toronto: Toronto Public Health; 2002. Literature review of low birth weight, including small for gestational age and preterm birth.
4. Graham H, Power C. Health Development Agency. Childhood disadvantage and adult health: A lifecourse framework.
5. Ontario Public Health Association. Towards a Public Health Approach to Reducing Child Poverty and Enhancing Resiliency.
6. Ross DP Canadian Institute for Health Information. Policy approaches to address the impact of poverty on health – A scan of policy literature. Poverty and Health.

 

About me

 I am Edward Benedict A. Suñe a highschool student of University of St. LaSalle Liceo Bacolod City. I was born on March 16, 2001. On that day I was named after my parents Eduardo Suñe and Ginalyn Suñe. My family lived in a small house in Eroreco, Bacolod City. Both of my parents are very hardworking. My dad is an Electrical Engineer that works in a factory in Taiwan, Although two years ago he retired already. On the other han d my mom is Chemical Engineer who works as a teacher in St. Scholastica’s Acdamey Bacolod City. My family still isn’t complete without my sister. She is four years older than me and is a graduate student of University of the Philippines Visayas as a statistician. 

Everyone has hobbies that they love and that they get absorbed in. I too have a lot of hobbies that love to watch and play. These hobbies are watching and playing baseball, football, lawn tennis, cycling, jogging and chess. These sports are the things that I would do on weekends with friends. Occasionally I would bike around with my family and friends. On other days of jog in the afternoon or play lawn tennis with my friends. On weekday nights I would watch videos of other people playing baseball and football. As for chess, it is my favorite sport. Actually I represent my school as a varsity in chess. Last year November I played chess in West Negros University and got a gold medal for playing in board 4. As of now I got transferred to a higher board and meet much more difficult opponents and only got bronze this year. 

“Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith 

This quotes rules over my head as I live each day of my life. As days pass by I try to be positive in every way possible. Helping others and doing what is best for myself and for others is what I’m trying to do. When I grow up I have two things I want to grow up as. I want to be a doctor or a chemical engineer. I wanted to be a doctor because I want to help and heal other people. I want to be there when they need me. There are other jobs that also do that but being a doctor is a special one. I get payed for doing what I love. On the other hand I want to be chemical engineer following the path of my mom. I love math and am very good at it. I also get to study more about math and have an easier time with it because I’m not that good at memorizing. Both works have their ups and downs and as of now I still can’t choose which one but as time passes by I have to choose one and I hope that the choice I will make will be the one to lead me to a happier place.