Introduction
Poverty
Children in poverty are more likely to suffer from
physical, cognitive, social, academic, and mental health problems. Because of
this, poverty is one of the most important risk factors when considering
childhood developmental outcomes. It is important to note that the poverty rate
among children is the highest of any age group, with the United States having
the highest percentage of poor children among Western nations. Within the
United States, health inequalities exist based on socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity,
race, and poverty level. Young children from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds are at the greatest health risk, largely due to a lack of health
insurance, which results in inconsistent medical care. While there has been
growing awareness of health care disparities, few effective interventions have
been implemented to mitigate them.