The relationship between poverty and health is complex and bidirectional, where poverty often leads to poor health outcomes, and poor health can trap communities and individuals in poverty.
This cycle is a significant concern in the fields of social and preventive pharmacy, which seek to understand and mitigate the health disparities caused by socioeconomic factors.
Poverty, defined as the lack of means to fulfil basic needs, has direct and indirect impacts on health:
1. Limited Access to Healthcare:
The poor often can't afford health services, medications, or preventive measures, making them more susceptible to diseases and leading to poorer health outcomes.
2. Malnutrition:
Poverty can lead to inadequate food intake or lack of nutritious food, resulting in malnutrition, stunted growth in children, and weakened immune systems.
3. Poor Living Conditions:
Inadequate housing or living in overcrowded conditions can expose individuals to various health risks, from respiratory diseases to infectious diseases
4. Lack of Education:
Poverty often limits educational opportunities. A lack of education can lead to limited health literacy, meaning people are less likely to engage in preventive health behaviors or seek care when needed.
5. Stress and Mental Health:
Living in poverty often means dealing with constant stress, which can lead to mental health issues, substance abuse, and other related problems.
6. Occupational Hazards:
Those in poverty often work in hazardous conditions without proper safety measures, exposing them to risks of injuries and other occupational diseases.
7. Limited Access to Clean Water and Sanitation:
This can lead to waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and other gastrointestinal diseases.
8. Exposure to Environmental Toxins:
Low-income neighborhoods might be located near industrial zones, landfills, or other pollution sources, exposing residents to toxins.
In both the cases of urbanization and poverty, social and preventive pharmacy plays a role in:
Promoting awareness of the health risks.
Enhancing access to essential medicines.
Encouraging preventive measures.
Working with communities to understand their unique challenges and needs.
Understanding the intricate connections between urbanization, poverty, and health helps in devising policies and interventions to address the multifaceted challenges faced by populations in these contexts.