The Negative Effects Of Childhood Poverty

The American society faces a countless number of social problems that began several generations ago and that will continue for many more generations to come, but childhood poverty is a social problem that the American society cannot afford to go another generation without greatly reducing the number of children that experience a life in poverty. The United States is home to “More than 16 million children – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level - $23,550 a year for a family of four” (National Center for Children in Poverty, 2014). Childhood poverty is a major concern for the American society based on poverty’s ability to have such negative effects on a child’s physical and mental health, the detrimental

“Compared with non-poor children, poorer children in the United States experience diminished physical health as measured by a number of indicators of health status and outcomes” (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997). Children who are born in poverty are more likely to be born at a low birth weight and more likely to experience exposure to lead poising. Low birth weight is associated with physical health, cognitive, and emotional issues that can continue through childhood, adolescence, and even into adulthood. Furthermore, “Serious physical disabilities, grade repetition, and learning disabilities are more prevalent among children who were low birth weight as infants, as are lower levels of intelligence and of math and reading achievement” (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997). Additionally, children living in poverty have a higher chance of being exposed to lead poising, which also contributes to serious long term health issues for children. “At very young ages, lead exposure is linked to stunted growth, hearing loss, vitamin D metabolism damage, impaired blood production, and toxic effects on the kidneys” (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997). With these two common issues that are likely to lead to serious long term effects for children living in poverty health insurance for children is of extreme importance, yet he number of children without health insurance in the United States remained at “7 percent in 2013” (Child Stats Gov, 2015). With the exceptionally high cost of medical care in the United States the 7 percent of children without health insurance are likely not receiving the medical attention to treat low birth rate concerns and lead poising exposure issues to prevent these issues from lasting long term or worsening. “Given the importance of the early years, young children must be provided with the best possible start in in life to maximize their potential”