Social Evils Poverty and Health
Social Evils, poverty and health
Poverty is one of the most important social evils and a major determinant of ill
health (1). From time it is known that poor social status is a major determinant of disease and
reduces longevity in a big way. The Charaka Samhita recognized that community structure and
functioning was an important cause of disease in individuals. The association of individual
illness causing community disturbances and poverty and vice versa was noted (2). Health status
is strongly determined by socio-economic positions and a large body of literature from developed
countries demonstrates that most causes of deaths occur at a greater rate in groups with lower
socio-economic status (3). Pathways from adverse social circumstances to ill health are then
discussed and some suggestions are made for eliminating these social evils. The Global Burden
of Diseases Study reported major causes of mortality, disease burden and risk factors in various
parts of the world (4). In developing countries, infections of respiratory tract, HIV/AIDS,
diarreah, tuberculosis, and malaria have emerged as important causes. The reliability of mortality
data has been questioned in terms of medical classification of deaths as a large number of deaths
are recorded as proof and old age. Globally, the important causes were lower respiratory
infections, AIDS, heart disease, and malaria. Indian National Commission on Macroeconomics
and Health (9) has reported that communicable diseases, maternal conditions as well as non-
communicable diseases which are major causes of disease burden. The Second Global Burden
of Diseases Study (4) quantified more than twenty health risk factors that influence health of
populations. Major risk factors identified were childhood and maternal undernutrition leading to
childhood and maternal underweight., iron deficiency, anaemia, vitamin A deficiency and zinc
Poverty is one of the most important social evils and a major determinant of ill
health (1). From time it is known that poor social status is a major determinant of disease and
reduces longevity in a big way. The Charaka Samhita recognized that community structure and
functioning was an important cause of disease in individuals. The association of individual
illness causing community disturbances and poverty and vice versa was noted (2). Health status
is strongly determined by socio-economic positions and a large body of literature from developed
countries demonstrates that most causes of deaths occur at a greater rate in groups with lower
socio-economic status (3). Pathways from adverse social circumstances to ill health are then
discussed and some suggestions are made for eliminating these social evils. The Global Burden
of Diseases Study reported major causes of mortality, disease burden and risk factors in various
parts of the world (4). In developing countries, infections of respiratory tract, HIV/AIDS,
diarreah, tuberculosis, and malaria have emerged as important causes. The reliability of mortality
data has been questioned in terms of medical classification of deaths as a large number of deaths
are recorded as proof and old age. Globally, the important causes were lower respiratory
infections, AIDS, heart disease, and malaria. Indian National Commission on Macroeconomics
and Health (9) has reported that communicable diseases, maternal conditions as well as non-
communicable diseases which are major causes of disease burden. The Second Global Burden
of Diseases Study (4) quantified more than twenty health risk factors that influence health of
populations. Major risk factors identified were childhood and maternal undernutrition leading to
childhood and maternal underweight., iron deficiency, anaemia, vitamin A deficiency and zinc