Reducing child poverty in England could drastically improve child health

Researchers have highlighted the benefits of reducing child poverty in England and help reach the target of reducing child poverty by 35% between 2024 and 2033

The findings suggest that tackling this issue could significantly improve child health outcomes and help narrow health inequalities across the country.

Child poverty in England

The study highlights that efforts to help children in need particularly by removing the controversial two-child limit on child benefits, could create substantial positive impacts.

Researchers projected that measures could potentially reduce infant deaths, decrease the number of children entering local authority care, and lower hospital admissions for childhood nutritional anaemia and emergencies.

The benefits of reducing child poverty are expected to be the most pronounced in the more deprived regions, especially areas like the North East of England.

Projections suggest that meeting ambitious targets for poverty reduction could lead to double the benefits compared to more conservative goals.

Child health outcomes

Achieving a high-ambition target of reducing child poverty by 35% between 2024 and 2033 could prevent approximately 293 infant deaths, reduce the number of children entering care by 4,696, and significantly cut hospital admissions for nutritional anaemia and childhood emergencies.

The researchers emphasise that child poverty plays a critical role in determining population health and worsening health disparities. They argue that policies implemented in response to economic crises, such as austerity measures, have historically worsened child health outcomes in the UK compared to countries that maintained or increased welfare spending.

Ongoing concerns about rising child poverty worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic pressures, the study calls for targeted measures to support families, such as enhancing Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit without restrictive limits.

The study’s researchers noted, “These reductions [in child poverty] would likely translate into significant savings for, and relieve pressure on, local authorities (in relation to children looked after) and health services. Benefits are likely to be greatest in the most disadvantaged areas, helping efforts to ‘level up’. Other health impacts that we have not been able to quantify are also likely.”

While acknowledging that their projections are based on assumptions, the researchers argue that these targets are achievable based on past reductions in child poverty observed under previous government policies.