Final answer:
Children who have poor health due to economic or social reasons often remain vulnerable to poor health throughout their lives even if their socioeconomic status improves, due to the sedimentation of global inequality and the intergenerational effects of poverty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children who have poor health due to economic or social reasons are vulnerable to poor health lifelong, even if their socioeconomic status later improves. This phenomena can be explained by the concept of 'sedimentation of global inequality,' which describes the entrenched nature of poverty, and its cyclical effects. It highlights that once poverty is established, breaking the cycle becomes very challenging due to the interwoven causes and consequences of poverty. One significant outcome of poverty is its detrimental impact on both physical and mental health, perpetuating vulnerability throughout the lifespan.
For example, impoverished children who suffer from poor diets and limited access to quality healthcare often face ongoing challenges to their health. These early disadvantages can affect their physiological development, such as the immune system, and increase susceptibility to diseases. Moreover, the stress associated with lower social status can lead to a higher burden of poor health outcomes. Factors such as unemployment, and resource inequality including minimal access to healthcare services, contribute to this enhanced stress and subsequent health risks.
The intergenerational effects of poverty also cannot be underestimated. Economic disparities have a significant impact on the ability of families to invest in their children's health and education, often resulting in long-term negative outcomes that span across several generations.