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Poverty threatens the health of young people

The health of millions of young people in Britain is being put at risk by the rapid increase in poverty in recent years — and children and young people have now overtaken pensioners as the largest age group in poverty.

The latest available government figures show that in 1993/94 there were 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK, compared with 1.4 million in 1979.

The increasing health and wealth divide in the UK stands in sharp contrast to decreasing inequality in countries such as Denmark, Italy and Canada, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.

CPAG highlights the impact of poverty on the health of young people in its recent report Not to be ignored, published in association with the King’s Fund. It says that high unemployment, the growth of low paid work and the absence of adequate social support have all contributed to the problem.

Sally Witcher, director of CPAG, said: ‘Young people in poverty face a minefield of health risks. Poverty is a problem which will not go away by ignoring it.’

Major poverty-related health problems for young people include accidents, repiratory problems, depression and other mental health problems, sexually transmitted diseases, dietary deficiencies and tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse.

Labour has committed itself to a renewed focus on health inequalities. Minister for public health Tessa Jowell is expected to announce that the Health of the Nation strategy for England will be radically revised for 1998, the fiftieth anniversary of the NHS.