Poverty makes it hard to reach health-related sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially because it affects access to safe water and sanitation facilities, mental health, quality of life, and healthcare. Poverty also affects other social determinants of health such as education attainment, autonomy, and economic status. In order to get more people to use antenatal care, we need programmes that help poor communities get out of poverty. Also, there should be programmes for women in rural areas and lower socioeconomic groups that focus on maternal health care. It is also important to address the link between poverty and autonomy when it comes to contraceptive behaviour among currently married women.
In order to reduce poverty and make progress towards the SDGs, there must be a concerted effort to increase knowledge about good hygiene practises within families that incorporate both primary caregivers (usually female) and financial controllers (usually male). This can be done through education campaigns promoting the benefits of hygiene habits. Furthermore, there needs to be greater awareness of the importance of hygiene infrastructure, including access to clean water and sanitation facilities, so that people are more able to follow these practices. Additionally, policies must be implemented that increase the accessibility of affordable supplies such as soap or sanitising products so that those who cannot afford them can still benefit from them.
In terms of mental health issues caused by poverty, such as unemployment, physical health problems, or insecurity, it is necessary for governments and aid organisations to foster an environment where services are available for those affected by these issues. This could include providing counselling services, job creation initiatives, or increasing funding for medical treatments such as psychotherapy or medication prescribed by professionals in the field. Moreover, specialised services should be made available for traumatic experiences like rape, which disproportionately affect poorer communities due to discrimination or a lack of resources dedicated to addressing this issue.
Finally, free primary education should be expanded in slums, which would allow children living in poverty-stricken conditions with limited resources an equal opportunity at attaining an education regardless of their family's socio-economic status. This could potentially lead to not only more educational opportunities but also employment opportunities that would help alleviate some stressors associated with poverty, such as housing problems or food insecurity.
Overall, addressing poverty has many health related implications regarding sustainable development goals, including improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities; decreasing rates of mental health disorders; empowering women with autonomy over contraceptive choices; reducing illiteracy rates in disadvantaged communities; and increasing job opportunities for those living in environments faced with economic hardship. By implementing targeted programs that focus on creating a healthier environment conducive towards achieving SDGs while simultaneously addressing structural issues linked with poverty will create lasting change beneficial for all individuals regardless of their socio-economic status.
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This article is a rewrite by artificial intelligence of some research papers (co)-authored by PhD Fellows using tools on CARTA Evidence (https://carta-evidence.org). It was edited by Jude Igumbor, and the original sources are listed below.
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