Children raised in poverty are more likely to get sick, and in adulthood die at a younger age, than those raised in more affluent surroundings, suggests a report released Thursday.
According to an annual report released by the Quebec government, even for children who manage to escape poverty when they become adults, the damage is done. The health effects can be felt throughout their lifetimes.
"Even if you change your social status later on, many of these impacts will still be there," Alain Poirier, Quebec's director of public health, told CBC News Thursday. He said children living below the poverty line are more likely to experience these problems.
Poirier said 20 per cent of Quebec's hospital costs go toward treating illnesses that can be directly attributed to a person's poor living conditions growing up.
These so-called poverty-related illnesses include respiratory, cardiac and mental health problems.
The report found that mortality rates among the poorest boys studied were three times higher than among rich children. Poor girls had mortality rates twice as high as the well off.
The report also found that the rates of hospitalization for mental illness were 127 per cent higher for underprivileged boys than their financially comfortable counterparts.
Underprivileged girls were also 17 per cent more likely to become mothers before they turned 20.
Quebec doing more than other provinces in poverty reduction
The study suggests that Quebec is not only besting its provincial rivals in the fight against poverty, but is also doing a better job than the United States, Britain and Australia. Quebec still lags behind France, Germany and the Scandinavian countries.
"One of the best investments is to invest in reducing poverty if we want to improve the health of our Quebecers," said Poirier.
Poirier said the government must work on improving social assistance programs for families and young children. He also said Quebec should consider raising its minimum wage.
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