Introduction
Poverty and health are deeply interconnected. Poor people often suffer from poor health due to lack of access to nutritious food, clean water, healthcare services, and safe living conditions. This connection becomes even more critical when it comes to mothers and children, who are the most vulnerable sections of society. In India, poverty is a major factor that affects maternal and child health, leading to high mortality rates, malnutrition, and poor quality of life. This blog explains how poverty is linked to health, especially mother and child health, using examples from the Indian context.
Understanding the Link Between Poverty and Health
Poverty leads to poor health, and poor health pushes families deeper into poverty. This cycle is hard to break without targeted policies and social support. The following are the major ways poverty affects health:
- Lack of money to access medical treatment
- Poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water
- Inadequate nutrition
- Inability to access education, especially for girls
- Limited access to health insurance or government schemes
Impact of Poverty on Maternal Health
Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Poverty affects all these stages in multiple ways:
1. Lack of Antenatal Care (ANC)
Many poor women do not receive regular checkups during pregnancy due to distance from healthcare centers, lack of awareness, or financial limitations. This increases the risk of complications.
2. Poor Nutrition
Pregnant women from poor families often lack proper nutrition. Deficiency of iron, calcium, and vitamins leads to anemia and poor fetal development.
3. Home Deliveries Without Skilled Birth Attendants
Many rural poor women give birth at home without trained medical staff, increasing the risk of maternal and infant mortality.
4. Postnatal Neglect
After childbirth, poor mothers often do not get adequate rest, nutrition, or medical care. This weakens their health and increases the risk of infections.
Impact of Poverty on Child Health
Children born in poor families face health challenges from birth, some of which can affect them for life.
1. Malnutrition
Poverty leads to undernutrition in children. India has high levels of child stunting, wasting, and underweight cases, especially in poor states and communities.
2. Low Immunization Coverage
Poor families often miss out on full immunization due to lack of awareness, distance, or work commitments. This exposes children to preventable diseases like measles, polio, and pneumonia.
3. Poor Sanitation and Hygiene
Children in poor households often suffer from diarrhea and other infections due to unclean water and poor sanitation.
4. Limited Access to Healthcare
Due to costs and poor infrastructure, many poor children do not receive timely medical attention for common illnesses, leading to complications and death.
5. Impact on Mental and Cognitive Development
Chronic poverty and poor health conditions affect a child’s brain development, concentration, and school performance.
Indian Government Schemes Addressing Poverty and Health
The Government of India has launched several programs to break the link between poverty and poor health:
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Promotes institutional deliveries by providing financial assistance to pregnant women.
- Poshan Abhiyaan: Aims to reduce malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
- National Health Mission (NHM): Strengthens rural health infrastructure and services.
- Anganwadi Centres: Provide supplementary nutrition and pre-school education.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Ensures children receive at least one nutritious meal in school.
- Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY): Offers free health insurance to poor families for secondary and tertiary care.
Real-Life Examples
States like Kerala, which have higher literacy and better public health systems, show better maternal and child health indicators. On the other hand, states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with higher poverty levels, continue to struggle with maternal deaths and malnourished children.
Conclusion
Poverty and health are closely linked, especially when it comes to mothers and children. In India, millions of women and children still suffer from preventable illnesses and poor health due to poverty. Addressing this issue requires not just better health services, but also improvements in education, sanitation, nutrition, and income opportunities. Only a multi-sectoral approach can break the cycle of poverty and poor health and ensure a healthier future for mothers and children.