Disease of poverty is a term used to collectively described disease, disability and health condition that are more prevalent among poor than the wealthier people. In many cases, poverty is considered the most health risk factor or determinant for such disease and in some cases the disease themselves are identified as barriers to economical development that would end poverty. These diseases are contrast to so-called “disease of affluence”. Which are diseases thought to be result of increasing wealth in a society. Diseases of poverty are often co-morbid and ubiquitous with malnutrition.
Contributing factors
For many environmental and social reasons, including crowded living and working conditions, inadequate sanitation and disappropriate occupation as sex workers, the poor are more likely to be exposed to infectious diseases.
Malnutrition, Stress, overwork and Inadequate, inaccessible, or non-existent health care can hinder recovery and exacerbate the disease. Malnutrition is associated with 54% of childhood deaths from disease of poverty and lack of skilled attendants during childbirth is primarily responsible for the high maternal and infant death rates among the poor.
- Contaminated water: Each year many children and adults die as a result of lack of access to clean drinking water and poor sanitation. Many communicable diseases and many of the poverty related diseases spread as a result of inadequate access to clean drinking water. According to UNICEF, 3,000 children die every day, worldwide due to contaminated drinking water and poor sanitation. Although the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of having the number of people who did not have access to clean water by 2015, was reached five year ahead of schedule in 2010, there are still 78.3 million people who rely on unimproved water sources. In 2010 the United Nations declared access to clean water a fundamental human right, integral to the achievement of other rights. This made it enforceable and justifiable
- Inadequate sanitation: Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation are related disease of poverty such as Malaria, parasitic disease and schistosomiasis. These infections act as cofactors that increase the risk of HIV transmission. Stand pipe and sanitation are provided in most developing areas but the death rate not significantly reduced. One of the reasons that water-related disease are still occurring because water supplies can be contacted by contaminated surface water. To effectively decrease the morbidity and mortality of diseases, the population should set access to water from home instead from outside. Therefore addition to the installation of stand-pipe, water supplies and sanitation should be provided within houses.
- Poor nutrition: Malnutrition disproportionately affects those in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 35% of children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa show physical sign of malnutrition, the immune system and infectious diseases operate in a cyclical manner; infectious diseases have deleterious effects on nutritional status and nutritional deficiencies can lower the strength of the immune system which affects the bodies ability to resist infections. Similarly, malnutrition of both macronutrients (such as protein and energy) and micronutrients (such as iron, zinc and vitamins) increase susceptibility to HIV infection by interfering with the immune system though other biological mechanisms. Depletion or macronutrient and micronutrients promote viral replication that contributes to greater risk of HIV transmission from mother-to-child as well as those through sexual transmission. Increased mother-to-child transmission is related to specified deficiencies in micronutrients such as Vitamin A. Furthermore, anaemia, a decreased number of red blood cells, increases viral shedding in the birth canal, which also increases the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Without these vital nutrients, the body lacks the defence mechanisms to resist infections. At the same time, HIV lowers the body’s ability to take in nutrients. HIV infection can affect the production of hormones that interfere with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Improper health care: Degrees of social status are closely linked to health inequalities. Those with poor health tend to fall into poverty and the poor tend to have poor health. According to W.H.O., within countries those of lower socioeconomical strata have the worst health outcomes. Health also appears to have a strong social component linking it to education and access to information. In terms of health, poverty includes, low income, low education, social exclusion and environmental decay. The poor within most countries are trapped in a circle in which poverty breeds ill health and ill health breeds poverty.
- Health disparity: Socioeconomic status affects three areas of health, health care in general, environmental exposure and health behaviour. When examining child health in the United States, those with the worst health were found to be those from low incomes families and those with little education. As socioeconomic status increased so did overall health outcomes. The same was found for African American children as well as Hispanic children with health indicators improving as income and education levels increased. For adults within the United States, health status and life expectancy improved as education levels and levels of income increased across social groups.
In sub-Saharan Africa, there are extreme differences in maternal and child health indicators between the richest and poorest – 20% percent of the populations. Many African countries also face regional and geographic disparities. By 2025 rural population of Africa is expected to grow from 510 million to 702 million people and these populations face deteriorating conditions, such as poor sanitation, adversely affect their heath. In rural communities of Ghana for example, poverty had become the largest determinant of poor health and life expectancy. In the case of Ghana and other developing countries, poverty cause more death and illness than plague, pestilence or farming. Poverty and disease are tied closely together with each factor aiding the offer. Many diseases that primarily affect the poor serve to also deepen poverty and worsen condition. Poverty also significantly reduces people’s capabilities, making it more difficult to avoid poverty and related diseases.
