Poverty and ill-health are inextricably linked. In rich and poor countries alike, ill-health follows a distinct social gradient: the lower an individual’s socioeconomic status, the worse their health. Poverty has many dimensions – material deprivation (food, shelter, sanitation, and safe drinking water), social exclusion, lack of education, unemployment, and low income – each of which “diminishes opportunities, limits choices, undermines hope, and threatens health.” Poverty has been associated with an increased risk of chronic disease, injury, poor infant development, a range of mental health issues (stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of self-esteem), and premature death. The burden of poverty falls most heavily on certain groups (women, children, ethnic and minority groups, and the disabled) and geographic regions. For Aboriginal Canadians, who experience significantly higher rates of poverty and ill-health than the non-Aboriginal population, breaking the “poverty – ill-health – poverty” cycle is critical to improving overall health outcomes.
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