Poverty and health: The challenges for GPs

Abstract

Poverty and poor health are closely linked in a complex relationship. The prevalence of poverty in the UK is growing, resulting in widening health inequalities. Poverty affects the social determinants of health on multiple levels, compromising economic stability, education, social and community contact, lifestyle and healthcare access, and the physical environment. It is associated with an increased prevalence of a range of physical and mental health disorders, with some groups particularly sensitive to the health impacts of poverty, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, refugee and asylum seekers, gypsy and travelling communities, and the homeless. GPs have an important role in identifying the health risks associated with poverty and in supporting individuals and families.