Introduction
It is a well-recognized fact that there is a close association of poverty and underprivileged health conditions. In this paper I make an attempt to describe the role of poverty in the health care system in our society based on the knowledge I gained after reading the book Staying Alive, by Dennis Raphael, Toba Bryant, Marcia Rioux. It is imperative that I present my perception of poverty first, before proceeding further in the paper.
Poverty is an economic condition under which individuals, families and other societal groups have a deficiency of resources that are required to thrive on a particular type of diet, take part in societal activities, and possess the amenities and living conditions, which are habitual or at least popular and encouraged in the society they live in. It can be further classified into absolute poverty where the affected do not have the capability to make ends meet, and relative poverty which refer to the circumstances under which the afflicted do not have the capacity to partake in the regular activities of day-to-day livelihood.
Main body
The speedy advancement in fields of information science and knowledge technology has made the world a better place to live in. Various opportunities for the progress in all human accomplishments have led to the course of scientific growth. Regrettably, the advances in living standards have failed to create a fair and beneficial environment for all sects of the society in an identical fashion. While going through various research articles on relevant issues I came across an astonishing finding that the population, which exist under severe poverty ridden conditions, is more likely to suffer from chronic ailments, are prone to recurrent and rigorous disease complexities and require more attention of the existing health care policies.
As financially impoverished families make great efforts to provide for basic requirements such as rations, lodging and the ever-escalating expenditures on energy, health expenditures usually end up as one of the bottom few on the priority roll. I also realized the dreadful impact of poverty on a nation’s children. Poor children are more prone to experience health tribulations, for example obesity, heart ailments and asthma that go on with their prolonged effects during later life.
The book Staying Alive brings forth various critical perspectives amongst which I found epidemiology to be a key concept to understand the issue. Let me first explain the meaning of epidemiology prior to going deep into the issue. It is the study of health and relevant determining factors in definite populations with an unstated objective of making progress in health conditions. The concept dates back to more than 150 years ago when John Snow studied the people afflicted by cholera.
I feel that the study of health issues should be largely oriented at the level it is being considered. Just like health of a single cell would be treated using a different as compared to the health of a human individual in terms of nutrition and habits, factors such as socio-economic status, income levels, beliefs etc. should also be considered when health is being studied on diverse planes of organization in the likes of communities, provinces or countries.
For example, it is illogical ask a cell to exercise, stay away from smoking, eat healthy food etc. Similarly, there are a lot of population oriented factors which make no sense at the individual level just the way in which the individual oriented factors such as eating habits, exercising, timely sleeping, exist, which make no sense at the cellular level. The success of an epidemiological project depends greatly on how well the relevant questions are framed. Asking the wrong question to the wrong population may result in outcomes of the observation going off course. Unless people of the population, used as samples for statistical observation, are identical in significant respects desired results might not be achieved.
It should be noted in this context that the poor and deprived people in a country suffer the most due to environmental degradation. With the advent of industrialization and modernization more and more villages are converted into towns, cities, forests are cleared, and trees are increasingly cut down for utilizing the land for construction of industries and for other uses. These clearing of forests have adversely affected the lives of poor people who depend on forests and forest products for their livelihood. Deforestations again lead to lack of rain, soil erosion and drought, which not only devastates the life of people but also adversely affects the overall progress and development of the country.
It should be noted that environmental pollution devastates the lives of people and as well effect progress and development of a country terribly. In every country low-income people, who are generally poor and deprived, live are mostly exposed to the harsh effects of nature and environment. These people generally live in dilapidated dwellings located in shabby places. These places generally have poor sanitation and lack in water supply. These unhygienic living conditions in these places result in spread of infectious diseases and famines. Poor people living in urban areas are mostly the victims of atmospheric pollution.
These people generally live in highly polluted unhygienic industrial areas or near waste dumps. Working environments in some production units are very perilous. In industries, the precipitation areas have caustic vapors, which can cause severe skin problems. In some production, unit people have to work in fluoride environment. Continuous exposure to such an environment may lead to a specific disease called Fluoric, which severely affects bones and teeth of the infected person. In all most, every industry less interest is shown towards the safety and benefit of the workers and hence the unhealthy working conditions seriously damage the health of the workers. These factors reduce both life span and working ability of the people, which lead to poverty.
Environment issues have great effects on human conditions. On analyzing human conditions, links have been found between the environment and poverty. The environment of any place influences primary aspects of human life and nature like health, vulnerability and livelihoods. Each country depends on its natural resources for progress and development. People depend on natural resources to earn their livelihood. The environment of a country is the primary source of natural resources.
Epidemiology brings up astounding findings in particular cases. Richard Wilkinson, a famous epidemiologist, came up with a theory that the economic fissure between the rich and the poor in a society has a direct correlation the health of the population. He supported this theory by relating life expectancy and income distribution, i.e. the income of the least privileged 70 percent of the population. Such results have upheld the cause for population health studies.
After reading, various epidemiological reports I can undoubtedly state that being on the relatively poorer segment of the society is an appalling condition as far as health issues are concerned. Even lack of egalitarian standards can be detrimental for the health of a population. Further findings reveal that for nations with lower Gross Domestic Product (GDP) life expectancy rises with GDP growth. In such nations, providing for basic amenities like drinking water rations and lodging become a high priority. Once that condition is satisfied, other population factors such as socioeconomic status and degree of egalitarianism come into play.
However, epidemiologists in today’s world just deal with the research and findings phase of an issue. They are not included in the action phase. I feel that there is an absolute necessity for a much more optimistic and action oriented procedure in order to achieve and enhance health standards. Poverty appears as a curse on the human race. It has an immense role to play in health care system, which in turn depends on various factors like political economy and social class categorizations. I strongly feel the inevitability of considering various factor associated with poverty about health policies of the authorities of the society under scrutiny.
Conclusion
However, in conclusion, it should be noted that just because a scientific, technological or economic procedure is present, the society should not use it in its favor without considering the long termed ramification of the society itself. There should be an ethical consideration of all scientific, technological and commercial usage and aspect of poverty and the right to live should be a serious part of this ethical measure. It can be used in many ways for the betterment of the society but society must not be motivated by social taboos and use the available resource to its short-term benefit. This is where the elements of social workers and policymakers become such an important instrument.
The social workers and policymakers are the individuals who can motivate the privileged sector of the society to adapt good sense and restrain from using the scientific, technological in a wrong and unethical manner with help of economy that supports them.
References
Raphael, Dennis, Toba Bryant, Marcia Rioux, Gary Teeple; Staying Alive: Critical Perspectives on Health, Illness, and Health Care; Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2006.