NHS Health Scotland briefing on child poverty

Date: 5th March 2013
Category: Basic Health and Welfare
Author: Health Scotland

This briefing is one of an occasional series, which explores child poverty and its relationship to health and wellbeing.

The briefing aims to provide an overview of the following:

• Why focus on children?
• What is child poverty?
• What are the levels of child poverty in Scotland?
• How does child poverty impact on health?
• What impact does child poverty have on health?
• What actions can be taken to protect children from the impact of poverty?

Amongst the key messages, the most recent estimates (for 2011/12) indicate that there were approximately 170,000 children in Scotland still living in relative poverty. This figure had fallen in recent years, but it is predicted that under current UK policies the numbers of children living in poverty will begin to increase in 2013 and continue to do so for a number of years.

• Access the briefing here.