Household income is one of the most important determinants of health status. According to the World Bank reports, one in five people in the world lives below international poverty levels. Children are the most vulnerable group affected by poverty in a population. The consequences of poverty in childhood include an increase in mortality and morbidity. Lack of access to sufficient food resources results in a spectrum of nutritional problems, from the lack of micronutrients to clinical manifestations of malnutrition. In Turkey, the proportion of poor people is increasing as the income inequality of all income groups becomes more apparent. Child poverty should be taken into account not only as the most important health-related problem but also as a “shame on humanity”. By making necessary changes in legislation, it is possible to remove the permanent effects of poverty on children. This paper aimed to review the relationship between child health and poverty and make some recommendations specifically for Turkey.

Keywords: çocuklar, yoksulluk, sağlıkta eşitsizlik, children, poverty, health inequalities