Final answer:
Individuals of low socioeconomic status are at higher risk for infections due to factors like inadequate nutrition, crowded living conditions, and lack of access to health care. Poverty creates a cycle of disadvantage, exacerbating these problems and resulting in greater morbidity and mortality. The relationship between undernutrition and infectious diseases is cyclical and mutually detrimental.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals of low socioeconomic status are at an increased risk for infection due to a variety of factors, including inadequate nutrition, crowded living conditions, and lack of access to health care. Such factors stem from poverty, which can lead to a cycle of disadvantage by limiting the availability of clean water supply, inadequate sanitation measures, and by contributing to the uninsured or underinsured status of individuals. Access to medical facilities is often limited for the poor, as they are less likely to be attractive customers for profit-driven health care providers, especially before the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Furthermore, poverty and low levels of education hinder individuals’ capacity to prevent health issues and to seek timely medical care, leading to more severe outcomes and higher costs when treatment is inevitable.
Undernutrition is both a risk factor for, and a potential consequence of, infectious diseases. The relationship between undernutrition and infectious disease is one where each can worsen the condition of the other, perpetuating a destructive cycle that impacts health outcomes dramatically. Studies have shown that morbidity and mortality rates are consistently linked to an individual's socioeconomic status (SES), suggesting that those with low SES face greater risks in terms of health.