Causes of

What Causes Poverty?

Poverty didn’t come from nowhere it is caused by several things, whether it was naturally or man-made any disaster can cause poverty. Here are some things that cause it:

 

 

• Income inequality:
  Research shows that when a country grows economically, overall poverty reduces. If the national income is not equally distributed among all communities in the country, there is a risk that poorer communities will end up poorer, and individuals will feel it most.              

 

 

• Conflicts and Unrest:
  About 33% of communities in absolute poverty live in places of conflict. In the past, countries like Rwanda and Sri-Lanka have suffered poverty as a result of years of tribal and civil wars. In recent years, Afghanistan, Iraq and the like are all going through difficult times and poverty is rife in these areas. Unrest result in massive loss of human live, diseases, hunger and violence, destruction of property and infrastructure, economic investments and quality labor. It is also a put-off for foreign investments. Wealth can never be created in such an environment.

 

 

• Adverse ecology and Location:
  Location of countries, as well as communities within the country can make people poor. Geographic and ecological factors such as mountains, swamps, deserts and the like have also made life conditions unbearable in many places. This is why some rural areas are poorer than others, even in the same country. For example, poverty in the Andes, Peru is six times higher than communities in the Amazonian region. In other instances, some communities are cut off from the main economic centers of the country. They find themselves located so far from roads, markets, health services, schools and economic facilities. This makes it just impossible for the locals to access support and assistance, and also makes it discouraging for economic investors to consider investing there. In Bangladesh for example, poverty is severe in areas of physical remoteness, as indicated by the fact that seven rural districts are home to half of the country’s severely stunted children.

 

 

• Natural disasters:
  Droughts, floods, hurricanes and other unexpected natural events cause deaths, illness and loss of income. In Ethiopia alone, there were 15 droughts (and famines) between 1978 and 1998 that led to the displacement, injury, or death of more than 1 million people. In better connected communities, families are able to come out of poverty and get on with their lives, but other remote and less accessible communities suffer for longer periods.
  

 

 

• Illness, Health and Disability:
  Poverty can also get worse if communities are affected with diseases such as Malaria and HIV aids. Diseases cause many deaths and children are left with no parents or care givers. Household wealth can also drain quickly with disable members. In many communities, disabled members are looked down upon and not allowed to inherit assets. They are considered a stigma and excluded from public events and exposure. This mentality can adversely affect the well-being of families. For example, the incidence of poverty is 15-44% higher in households with a disabled head or adult.

 

 

• Inheritance of Poverty:
  Families that have had a lifetime of poverty tend to pass on the situation to their children. They cannot afford education for their children and children grow with no skills. Children work on the same family farms, and marry into families with similar conditions as they turn adults. They in turn pass on the tradition to their children.

 

 

• Education, Training and skills:
  People who are educated or had some training or skills are in a better position to apply ideas and knowledge into fixing basic problems and enhancing their livelihoods. They are able to plan, follow instructions and get reach out to access information, tools and support that can improve their livelihoods. In the absence of training, skills or education, people cannot help themselves. They cannot prevent diseases, and cannot apply new ways of doing things. The result is that their poverty situation is worse of and are even more vulnerable than before. 

 

 

• Gender discrimination:
  In many African communities, girls were not allowed to be in school. Families preferred to invest in boys’ education than in girls. Women were also not allowed to do major economic activity and had less ownership of lands and assets. This idea negatively impacts on the well-being of women, and the development of their children is also impacted negatively. 

Source: Causes of poverty in the world – eSchooltoday

 

Poverty and Health

Worldwide, 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty. This means they may have little or no access to safe housing, clean water, basic toilet facilities, or any health care. Educational levels in poor areas are often low. Poor people have a shorter life expectancy than wealthier people, and more mothers and children die in poor areas than in richer areas. Each year, 9.7 million children worldwide die before their fifth birthday.

 

Infectious diseases of all types are present in poor areas. Close contact among persons sharing housing and limited sewage and waste treatment means that infections can spread more easily, including infections spread by insects. Unsafe sex practices and prostitution spread sexually transmitted diseases, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a major health issue in all areas of the world, and the number of infected individuals has increased rapidly in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

 

Individuals living in poor areas often lack preventive health care or the means to manage chronic diseases, even in developed countries. Children and adults who live in poverty may have poor nutrition, including vitamin deficiencies and protein-calorie malnutrition, which can affect mental functioning and physical health.

 

Education may not be available in poor areas of the world. If schools are available, many children may not be able to attend because they must work to support themselves or their families. Low literacy rates(number of persons who can read and write) and educational levels contribute to poor health and to the cycle of poverty.

Source: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=209293