Challenges Faced by Children in Poverty-Stricken Areas
After joining the Daram community, we were deeply influenced by its commitment to protecting children’s rights worldwide. Motivated by this, we conducted some research on the global children’s situation. The data presented here is sourced from the internet. While we’ve tried my best to verify its accuracy, we cannot guarantee complete precision, so it’s provided for reference only. As we reflect on these findings, let us collectively advocate for greater awareness of and attention to children’s rights across the globe.
According to a joint report by UNICEF and the World Bank, approximately 333 million children worldwide live in extreme poverty, representing one-sixth of the global child population. These children face challenges across many areas, and this report highlights a few as guidance for Daram's continued efforts.
Challenges in Education
Enrollment Rates and Education Quality
Children in poverty-stricken areas often have lower school enrollment rates. For example, in Delhi, India, only 54.4% of school-age children living in slums attended primary school between 2004 and 2005, compared to the citywide average of 90%. In Bangladesh, data from 2009 showed that only 18% of children from slums attended secondary school, compared to 53% in urban areas and 48% in rural regions. These disparities reflect significant inequality in access to education for children in impoverished areas.
Additionally, enrollment rates vary considerably between countries, further highlighting global disparities in access to education.
Lack of Early Childhood Education
Children in poverty-stricken areas often lack access to quality early childhood education. For instance, in Egypt between 2005 and 2006, kindergarten enrollment rates were 25% in urban areas and 12% in rural areas. However, among the poorest 20% of urban families, only 4% of children attended kindergarten. This lack of early education has long-term negative effects on children’s development.
At the same time, the increasing global urbanization rate is creating opportunities for more children to access early education in urban areas, though much work remains to bridge these gaps.
Scarcity of Reading Resources
Children in impoverished areas face a severe shortage of extracurricular reading materials. For instance, 74% of rural children read fewer than 10 extracurricular books a year, and 71% of families in these areas own fewer than 10 books. This lack of reading resources limits children’s opportunities to gain knowledge and expand their horizons.
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Nutrition and Health Issues
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is one of the primary health challenges faced by children in poverty-stricken areas. It is a contributing factor in over one-third of deaths among children under five globally. Malnutrition can lead to stunted growth, underweight children, and wasting.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, a 2006 study revealed that the nutritional gap between children in urban wealthy communities and those in urban poor communities was greater than the gap between urban and rural children. Similarly, in India, a 2005–2006 national health survey found that among the poorest 25% of urban residents, 54% of children were stunted and 47% were underweight, compared to 33% and 26%, respectively, among other urban residents.
Poor Sanitation
The poor sanitation conditions in poverty-stricken areas pose serious health risks to children. Each year, approximately 1.2 million children under five die from diarrheal diseases. In urban slums, limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities, combined with overcrowded living conditions, greatly increases the risk of fecal contamination and disease.
High Risk of Disease Transmission
Poverty-stricken areas, particularly urban slums, are hotspots for infectious diseases due to high population density and poor hygiene. For instance, in Egypt between 2005 and 2006, the stunted growth rate among children over 15 months old in urban areas reached 57%, compared to a national rate of less than 28% in Kenya. In other cases, diseases such as HIV disproportionately affect young people in these areas. Infection rates among 15–24-year-olds in urban versus rural settings highlight stark contrasts across different regions.
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Mental Health and Socio-Emotional Development
Poverty impacts not only children’s physical health but also their mental health and socio-emotional development.
Mental Health Challenges
Studies have shown that children living in poverty are more likely to experience mental health issues. By the age of 11, children in poverty are four times more likely to have poor mental health compared to their peers. These issues often include anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders.
Socio-Emotional Development Difficulties
Growing up in impoverished environments can hinder children’s ability to develop essential social and emotional skills. For example, children left behind in rural areas by parents who migrate for work often experience a lack of parental care and support. This, combined with factors such as exposure to domestic violence or harsh parenting, negatively impacts their socio-emotional development.
Low Self-Esteem and Confidence
Children living in poverty may suffer from feelings of inferiority due to their limited material resources and low social status. These feelings can damage their self-esteem and confidence, affecting their motivation to learn and their future development.
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Conclusion
Children in poverty-stricken areas face multifaceted challenges across education, health, nutrition, psychological well-being, and family environments. These issues not only affect their current quality of life but also have profound long-term impacts on their future development. Additionally, changing population distributions will likely influence the geographic concentration of poverty-stricken children in the future.
Addressing these challenges requires the collective effort of governments, social organizations, and individuals. A comprehensive approach is needed to truly improve the living conditions and development opportunities for children in poverty. By helping them break free from the cycle of poverty, we can enable them to build brighter futures.
At the same time, we are deeply aware of how small the Daram community is in the face of such enormous challenges. Yet, as the saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Together, through consistent and dedicated efforts, we can make a difference.
Compiled and Written by Geese of the Daram Community.