Poverty and Health - The Family Medicine Perspective (Position Paper)

This article is written from the perspective of a family medicine doctor talking about ways that poverty and low-income families can be helped. The article starts by defining low income, as it can be a general term. It then goes into information, statistics, and ways to help.

The term “low income” generally describes individuals and families whose annual income is less than 130-150% of the federal poverty income level (American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP], 2022).

The AAFP urges its members to become informed about the impact of poverty on health. Achieving the vision of optimal health for everyone requires a culturally proficient care team and a well-resourced medical neighborhood that supplies readily accessible solutions. Family physicians play a critical role in community health and can contribute through bold efforts in many areas (AAFP, 2022). 

…In 2020, the federal poverty income level was $12,760 for an individual younger than 65 years and $26,200 for a family of four.⁶ In 2019, approximately 10.5% of Americans were living below the poverty line. While overall poverty rates had been declining in the past several years, inequalities remain by SDoH, including race and racism, ethnicity, educational attainment, and disability status (AAFP, 2022).

Violence is also more prevalent in areas with greater poverty. From 2008 to 2012, individuals in households at or below the poverty level experienced more than double the rate of violent victimization than individuals in high-income households.²⁵ This pattern of victimization by violent behavior was consistent for both Black and white individuals. It significantly impacts the victim’s family and perpetrator’s family (through incarceration) (AAFP, 2022).

This article gives good insight into a large problem in rural communities. Previous research showed that a large reason for poor health care is due to the high levels of poverty. This article helps guide people from all different professions and positions at the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This article helped me better understand how poverty can affect healthcare beyond simply being unable to afford medical care. Low income can be connected to many other factors, including access to resources, education, living conditions, and other social determinants of health. This is especially important to consider when designing for rural communities because a healthcare solution may not be effective if people cannot afford it, access it, or understand how to use it. It made me think about the importance of designing solutions that are realistic for the people who will actually use them. Instead of assuming that everyone has the same resources, designers should consider financial and social barriers from the beginning and look for ways to make healthcare resources more accessible and sustainable.

Reference

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2022). Poverty and health: The family medicine perspective. https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/poverty-health