Diseases of Poverty

Abstract

Poverty and poor health are intricately connected, for poverty may be a consequence of poor health, and similarly, poor health may be a result of poverty. It has often been detailed how poverty creates a vicious cycle, trapping those who cannot escape due to poor access to care, among other reasons. While infectious diseases are certainly more common among developing countries, it is worth noting that poverty increases the risk of non-communicable diseases as well. Infectious diseases run rampant in impoverished communities due, in part, to overcrowded and poor living conditions, lack of access to fresh, healthy food and clean water, and poor sanitation. Non-communicable diseases, however, are just as devastating a problem for poor nations. Multiple studies have shown how lower socioeconomic communities have higher mortality rates regarding non-communicable diseases, suggesting that these are not exclusively diseases of affluence or lifestyle.