Impact of Poverty on Child Health and Development

Abstract

This paper takes a critical look at impacts of poverty on child health and development. The paper perceives poverty as the major barrier to human development especially the children. Some of the causes of poverty were identified such as war, history, national dept, discrimination, social inequality, vulnerability to national disaster, workless ness, low paid work, low wages, part time work, high cost of child care etc. The impacts of poverty on the health, cognitive development, social, emotional and behavioural, educational attainment, disability and physical health of the child were seen. The paper equally x-rayed pathways through which poverty operates which include: health and nutrition, home environment, parental interaction with children, parental mental health and neighborhood conditions. Certain strategies that will improve the well-being of children living in poverty were discussed. The paper concludes that poverty has detrimental impact on the health development of the child now and in future if not curbed and thereby recommends among other things that government should pay urgent attention to avoid further damage in order to reduce poverty among the populace so that children would have an appreciable level of health. When this is done, children will have the opportunity to grow and develop well.

Keywords: Poverty, Child, Health, Development