10 characteristics of poverty

What is poverty?

Poverty can be defined as the lack of basic resources to satisfy the minimum needs of a person or community. These needs include food, housing, education, access to health services, and employment opportunities, among others. Poverty not only manifests itself on a material level, but can also affect people's quality of life and emotional and psychological well-being.

10 main characteristics of poverty

1. Lack of access to basic services such as drinking water, electricity and sanitation.
2. Food shortages and malnutrition.
3. Precarious housing or the lack of a stable home.
4. Low or no education and limited access to learning opportunities.
5. Unemployment or precarious employment with low wages.



6. Poor access to health services and medical assistance.
7. Social exclusion and discrimination based on gender, race or ethnicity.
8. Lack of access to financial services and the inability to obtain credit.
9. Vulnerability to natural disasters and economic crises.
10. Low self-esteem and hopelessness in the future.

Poverty worldwide

According to data from the United Nations (UN), around 10% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty, which means that more than 700 million people do not have access to enough food to lead a healthy life. Poverty is also closely related to other social problems such as lack of access to education, discrimination, social exclusion and lack of economic opportunities.

Frequently asked questions about poverty

1. What are the causes of poverty?

Poverty can have multiple causes, including lack of economic opportunities, discrimination, lack of access to education and health, gender inequality, forced migration, armed conflicts, among other factors.

2. What can be done to combat poverty?

The fight against poverty requires actions at the individual, community, national and international levels. Among the measures that can be implemented are the promotion of decent employment, access to health and education services, the redistribution of wealth, the promotion of gender equality, among others.

3. What impact does poverty have on people's health?

Poverty can have a negative impact on people's health by limiting access to medical services, adequate nutrition, safe housing, and other resources necessary to maintain good health.

4. How does poverty affect education?

Poverty can limit access to education, whether due to the lack of financial resources to pay school fees, the need to work to contribute to family support, or the lack of educational infrastructure in rural or marginal areas.

5. What is the relationship between poverty and the environment?

Poverty and environmental deterioration are often closely related, as people living in poverty tend to depend more directly on natural resources for their subsistence, and are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and pollution.

6. How does poverty affect family life?

Poverty can generate stress and tension in family life, due to lack of economic resources, job insecurity, and difficulty meeting the basic needs of family members.

7. What is the relationship between poverty and violence?

Poverty can increase people's vulnerability to situations of violence, both within the family and in the community, due to the lack of resources to seek help and protection.

8. What role do public policies play in the fight against poverty?

Public policies can play a fundamental role in the fight against poverty, through the implementation of social assistance programs, the promotion of decent employment, access to health and education services, and the creation of a fairer economic environment. and equitable.

Strategies to combat poverty

There are multiple strategies that can be implemented to combat poverty at the local, national and international level. Some of these strategies include the promotion of decent employment, investment in social infrastructure, the implementation of social assistance programs, the promotion of gender equality, the protection of the environment, among other measures.

Conclusion

Poverty is a complex and multidimensional problem that requires a comprehensive approach to its solution. The fight against poverty not only involves the redistribution of economic resources, but also the promotion of equity, access to development opportunities, the protection of the environment, and the guarantee of human rights. It is everyone's responsibility, both individually and collectively, to contribute to the construction of a more just and equitable world, in which poverty is just a memory of the past.