Poverty
Poverty is a human condition, characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of resources, capability, capabilities, choices, security, and pwer, necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate.....
PRSP
Poverty is also being exposed to
dimensions of poverty (picture slide)
- services
- income
- etc
- etc
there a viscious cycle, with ill health leading to poverty leading to ill health
Poverty is very expensive
170-225k/year/per person in EHS etc costs
House of Commons passed a resolution on November 24, 1989 to eliminate child poverty by 2000.
Who Lives in Poverty?
Poverty
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Report Card
Canada has ~15% child poverty rate, cf 2.4% in Denmark
Effects of Poverty
The social gradient extends across the many different countries.
life expectancy
comparing highest and lowest income brackets in urban Canada in 1991
life expecancy was 78 vs 73 (Statscan)
What is Being Done
The UK has a poverty reduction strategy
Quebec began in 2004, and Newfoundland in 2006
Build momentum and assert momentum is being built
"eliminating poverty is the best medicine money can buy" - David McKewan (sp), Toronto MOH
Good suggestions
10$ minimum wage
Income Assistance needs to be strongly coupled with community assistance to get people up and running.
Homelessness
Absolute homelessness refers to those who do absolutely do not have a place to stay.
Relative homelessness refers to people who have a place, but not with safety, clean water, home security, etc.
managed alcohol program
- can't get etoh if they get drunk or disorderly
- they don't need to worry about the terrible cycle of hunting down etoh
- now turning into a social reintigration situation
OICHP
- reduced EHS use
- reduced substance use
Poverty is Hunger
Mot supply, but distribution
Poverty is Shelter
Learn how to provide health care in slums
Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor
Poverty is having access to school and not knowing how to read
Poverty is not having a job
Poverty and Health Care
HIV is not only different for
HIV is a different disease in the marginalized; it is a chronic disease for the rich, but a palliative disease in the homeless.
Identifying Poverty
Some good screening questions:
- will you have any trouble paying for this medication?
- do you ever have any trouble making ends meet at the end of the month?
Are you currently working? Do you have any fears about losing your job?
Many of these questions can also be given on a questionnaire.
Chronically Homeless
Health outcomes are similar to the poor in developing countries.
The demographics of the homeless have dramatically changed; now many more families
diabetes
- Diabetes in Ontario: ICES Practice Atlas, 2003
addictions
msk
skin
HIV/ADIS
cardiac
respiratory
cancer
mental health:100%
- 10% schizophrenic
liver disease
hepatitis C is a new epidemic
Chest 2007. 132:1608-1614
- meta-analysis of pulmonary function
Canadian Health Network article
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