Child Poverty

The impact of poverty on child health and wellbeing

This essay will look at the link between child poverty and health. It will also review Every Child Matters (ECM, 2003) and other government interventions tackle child poverty. It will also point out the key issues of health inequalities and highlight the possible long term consequences of children being raised in poverty. Relevant theories of poverty will be also discussed in order to get a clearer understanding of health associated impediments. The conclusion will summarise what has been learned and discuss how the UK government could further support children and young people to overcome or even eliminate poverty in this country.

There are direct and indirect causes of child poverty. Direct cause of child poverty often relates to insufficient resources and materials.   Indirect causes of child poverty are often associated with parental unemployment, lack of qualifications, and at times discriminations and racism (May et al, 2001). According to the End Child Poverty Campaign (ECP, 2010) these factors have a drastic effect on children’s health and well-being.

The End Child Poverty Campaign (EPC) is one of the leading charity organisations that actively promote the importance of health in order to tackle and eliminate child poverty. The organisation believes, in order to reduce heath related illnesses in children and young people it is necessary to tackle and eradicate child poverty (EPC, 2010).   In their Policy and Implications briefing, EPC (2008) highlighted the links between poor health and poverty and stated that poverty and health complications have a devastating effect on children’s and young people’s life. According to Spencer (2008) children and young people who live in poverty are more likely to have a deprived adult hood. According to Williamson (WalesOnline.co.uk, 2010) in order to increase health levels of the population, it is vital to tackle and eliminate the chain of child poverty and...