Child poverty
Around 1 in 3 children in Wales live in poverty. Children experience poverty when their household’s income is not enough to meet their basic needs or provide an acceptable standard of living – meaning one of more of the building blocks of health is missing. It can mean families struggle to heat their homes, eat a nutritious diet, travel to school, work, or essential services, afford clothing, digital access, or childcare, or take part in social and community activities.
Child poverty is driven by a combination of low household income from work, an insufficient safety net from welfare payments, and high and rising costs of living. Some family types face higher risk, including lone parent families, families in rented housing, families with a disabled adult or child, families with three or more children, families with babies or very young children, and minority ethnic households.
Poverty is complex and is experienced in different ways. In Wales, we sometimes talk about different types of poverty, for example: Fuel poverty; Food poverty; Rural poverty; Transport poverty; Period poverty; Pensioner poverty, and Child poverty. Poverty is a cause of poor health, and poor health can also be a cause of poverty.
Why is child poverty important to health, well-being and reducing inequalities?
Growing up in poverty can have life-long consequences for children’s health and life chances. It increases the likelihood of poor health, unemployment, and reliance on public services later in life. Child poverty is a major causeof the gaps we see in the health and wellbeing outcomes of people across Wales (also called health inequalities).
Poverty affects children’s health and wellbeing in many ways:
- Physical health: lower birthweight, higher risk of obesity, lower levels of physical activity, poorer oral health, higher risk of long-term conditions
- Mental health: increased stress, anxiety and emotional strain
- Development: reduced early years development and school readiness, more likely to be affected by health-harming behaviours as teenagers
- Education: lower attendance and achievement
- Future outcomes: lower earnings, increased risk of unemployment, poorer adult health, reduced life expectancy and healthy life expectancy
Reducing child poverty is essential for improving children’s health today but also the health of the adults they become, and for breaking cycles of disadvantage to create a more equal Wales for future generations.
What is Public Health Wales doing to improve child poverty and health?
Public Health Wales recognises child poverty as a core public health priority and necessary for ensuring that every child in Wales has the best start in life. Our strategic focus includes prioritising child poverty as a public health issue, strengthening data and systems approaches to direct action, and supporting local, regional and national partners to drive coordinated change.
Our work includes:
- Advocating for policies that reduce child poverty and its health harms
- Providing evidence, insights and analysis on the health impacts of child poverty
- Supporting national and local partners to take preventative, collaborative, whole system action
- Developing data tools and insights to identify need and understand drivers
- Supporting organisations to prioritise child poverty within strategies and plans
- Highlighting cost-effective interventions that reduce inequalities
What action should be taken to reduce child poverty and improve health?
Child poverty in Wales remains a persistent and complex challenge. It requires organisations to work together at a national, regional, and local level to try and reduce child poverty and reduce its harmful impacts on health and wellbeing.
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