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Diseases of Poverty

Contributing Factors

Lack of Access to Exercise

Lack of exercise is an issue strongly related to poverty, due to lack of access to suitable recreational areas. The lack of physical activity increases the risk of developing chronic health diseases, cancer as well as decreasing one’s quality of life. Poverty is a risk factor for many different health issues, which can be impacted by their lack of access. Obesity and risks of chronic health diseases can be prevented through increasing physical activity and being able to have access to places to exercise. Physical inactivity isn’t a personal choice, but one linked to socioeconomic status as well.

For individuals in poverty, it can be difficult to find a place to exercise. Within low income neighborhoods or towns, there are fewer opportunities to increase physical activity due to the lack of; parks, opportunities within the schools to participate in sports or recreational activities, and recreational facilities within the community. In low income communities only about one in five homes have parks within a half-mile distance, and about the same number have a fitness or recreation center within that distance. Since there are a lack of places to increase physical activity, the rates of obesity and chronic health diseases are on a rise among those in poverty.

One of the major concerns for impoverished neighborhoods is safety, which is a determinant of how often people exercise within the community. The ability to find transportation can also cause issues within the lack of access to exercise because of transportation and even the expense at which parents might pay if transportation is available. Children and adults who do not exercise frequently lower their quality of life, which will impact them as they age. One in three children are physically active on a daily basis, and children spend seven or more hours a day is spent in front of a screen whether it be a computer, a tv, or video games. By just participating in exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times a week can show many benefits on one’s life. Some examples of benefits from exercise include; managing weight better, decreasing risk for heart disease and heart attacks, lowering blood pressure, shorter recovery times from injury, improves mood and sleep patterns, increases social contact, and makes one feel better overall.

Mental Stress

Mental Health is “a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity”. Poverty has a profound effect on a person’s mental health. According to Alyssa Brown of theWashington D.C. Gallup, 31% of people living in poverty have reported 31% of Americans have at some point been diagnosed with depression compared with 15.8% of those not in poverty. Many people attribute their depression to unemployment, life stressors, and witnessing more violence. These are very relevant in the impoverished world.

It is uncertain whether poverty induces depression or depression causes poverty. What is certain is that the two are closely linked. A reason for this link could be due to the lack of support groups such as church community centers. Isolation plays an integral role in depression. For example, results from a cohort study of approximately 2,000 older adults aged 65 years and older from the New Haven Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly found that social engagement was associated with lower depression scores after adjustment for various demographic characteristics, physical activity and functional status. This proves that an increase in community based centers, should decrease mental illness in high poverty areas of the United States.

Inadequate Education

Education is affected by poverty which is known as the income achievement gap. This gap shows that children living in poverty or have lower-income are less likely to have the cognitive and early literacy levels of those who don't. The amount of income affects the amount of extra money a family has to spend on additional educational programs; including summer camps and out of school assistance. In addition to finances, environmental toxins, including lead and stress and lack of nutritious food can diminish cognitive development.

In later education, students considered low-income or in poverty are more likely to dropout of school or only receive a high school diploma. The failure to achieve higher levels of education attributes to the cycle of poverty which can continue for generations in the same family and even in the community. The higher up one's education is, the greater their chance of achieving a more secure job and economic future.

Redo Inadequate Sanitation Section

One in three people worldwide do not have access to adequate sanitation. Inadequate sanitation can lead to diarrheal diseases that often result in serious illness and not uncommonly, death-- especially in children. These diarrheal diseases contribute not only to the decreased health of an individual, but also to an increase in poverty. Diseases of this nature cause an inability to attend school and work, thus directly decreasing income as well as educational development. The problem of inadequate sanitation is cyclical in nature-- just as it is caused by poverty, it also worsens poverty.

Redo Poor Housing Conditions

Families living in poverty often struggle not only with housing problems, but neighborhood safety and affordability problems as well. Avoiding neighborhood safety problems often means staying home which reduces opportunity for exercise outside the home which exacerbates health issues due to lack of exercise. Staying in the home can mean exposure to lead, mold and rodents within that home that can lead to an increased risk of illness due to these inadequate housing issues.

Cycle of Poverty

The cycle of poverty is the process through which families already in poverty are likely to remain in those circumstances unless there is an intervention of some kind. This cycle of poverty has an impact on the types of diseases that are experienced by these individuals, and will often be passed down through generations. Mental illnesses are particularly important when discussing the cycle of poverty, because these mental illnesses prevent individuals from obtaining gainful employment. The stressful experience of living in poverty can also exacerbate mental illnesses.

This cycle of poverty also impacts the familial diseases that are passed down each generation. By experiencing the same stressful situations for decades, individuals become more susceptible to diseases like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.


 * Americanize Lack of Access to Health Services Section (Nicole)

Consequences


 * Life Expectancy