Background to the Research

• Over recent decades, infant mortality rates and the incidence of many infectious diseases that affect children have fallen in NI. However, children in NI have high levels of the major risk factors for heart disease, poor dental health and increasing levels of asthma. Furthermore, research shows a divide between the health of rich and poor children.
  

Research Approach

• The author draws on official data and various studies into child poverty, deprivation and health in NI and the UK in order to provide an overview of the interaction between poverty and ill-health.
  

Main Findings

• It is estimated that 37% of children in NI live in poverty, this figure represents 139,000 children.
• Babies born to parents on low incomes in NI have a 50% higher risk of dying than those born to rich parents. The mortality rate for children in the age groups 0-4 years, 5-9 years and 10-14 years, are 30% or more higher amongst children living in the most deprived areas compared with those living in the most affluent areas in NI.
• Almost 9% of births in the most deprived areas are to teenage mothers compared with less than 3% in the most affluent areas of NI.
• In the UK as a whole, a child whose father is from an unskilled social class is twice as likely to die before the age of 15 as a child with a professional father.
• In the UK, children in social class 5 are twice as likely to die as a result of an accident as children from social class 1. In North and West Belfast, there is an increased incidence of childhood accidents in the street and at school when children live in deprived wards in comparison with less deprived wards.
• Over 40% of primary school children living in the Shankill area of Belfast had one or more health problems - the most common being asthma and bronchitis.
• Child poverty is associated with ill-health in several ways, low incomes mean that the basic necessities of health, food, shelter, warmth and safety are difficult to obtain. Quality of life is also affected where limited resources prevent the development of strong social networks, friendships, community participation and self-esteem.
• Children in NI are particularly vulnerable to poverty and at greater risk of ill-health because NI has higher long-term unemployment and lower levels of average weekly household income than the rest of the UK.

Recommendations

Economic and Social Change

• Government - at interdepartmental level - should develop a strategy to address child health inequalities in NI. Key to this should be a guarantee that all families have sufficient income to afford basic necessities such as food, fuel, clothing and shelter.
• All government departments should be required to consider the implications of their policies on children's health.

Access to Essential Services

• Providers of services to children such as housing, social services, health services, education and play, should set targets aimed at reducing inequalities in children's health.
• The needs of children living in disadvantaged areas should be a key issue in primary health care and education strategies.

Strengthening Communities

• The development of community health work based on the identification of local needs by communities should be supported.
• Community regeneration schemes should respect and strengthen the rights of children and families.

Strengthening Individuals

• Central to the provision of all services for children and families should be a recognition of the importance of building self-esteem.