Wider income inequalities in society are detrimental to child health and prosperity

What is it about?

Studies suggest that children are healthier in countries with smaller income gaps. There is a positive link between social status and gains in child health. However, little is known about whether the poor and rich fare better when countries have less income inequality. In this study, researchers studied the relationship between child height across different levels of society and their parent’s income and education. They chose to study this in countries where incomes were high. They used data from the USA, UK, Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and studied 37,063 children aged 4 to 6 years from these countries.

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Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Child height is a good measure of how children are faring and the general health of the population. It can also be used as a marker for future trends. After considering differences in sex and age, the findings revealed some interesting trends. Differences in child height varied among the five countries based on social gaps, and this variation is not guaranteed to be the same in all places. However, in more equal countries, children were taller across all levels of parent education and income. This was in contrast to less equal countries. Furthermore, a child’s height was most affected when their parents had poor education and low income. Overall, this study shows that children fare better when societies are more equal in countries. KEY TAKEAWAY: The researchers reveal that children in less privileged parts of more unequal societies face a double challenge. They must handle their tough circumstances while also tackling the obstacles of an unfair society. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 1: No Poverty • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being • SDG 4: Quality Education • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals