Softening impact of poor social conditions will have big benefits

POVERTY and socio-economic disparity are among the greatest obstacles facing South Africans. About 63% of children younger than 6 live in poverty.

Harsh socio-environmental factors, especially when they happen in the early years of a child’s life, can establish a developmental “biology of misfortune”. This involves neurobiological and epigenetic processes that can steer a person towards poor health, unrealised potential and a shorter life.

That’s why child and adolescent health is an urgent priority and should be placed at the centre of the healthcare system.

In our recent paper, my colleagues and I described how adverse socio-environmental factors in early life can programme the outcome of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders in adulthood.

South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world. Children who are exposed to such levels of poverty can suffer immediate and long-term effects. Children from poor families have higher rates of chronic illness and experience worse health in adulthood.

More than half (55%) of the population experiences poverty, with childhood poverty affecting 63% of children. With diet being intertwined with emotions, cognition and behaviour, close attention should be paid to nutrition.

Research has shown that certain diets are hugely beneficial to people’s health. One example is a diet that’s high in polyphenols. These are plant compounds found in tea, chocolates, herbs and spices, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Several have been shown to be able to reduce illnesses by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain.

On top of this, South Africa sits on a botanical “goldmine” of indigenous medicinal plants. Many have anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic as well as anti-ageing properties.

Finally, while the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child have long been known, South Africa, like most countries, is still not doing enough to support mothers to breastfeed, despite the immense economic implications.

The failure to optimise nutrition, especially during the critical periods of development for vulnerable young children, should be avoided at all costs. There is a definite requirement for efforts directed at improving the national diet.

But healthier foods are far more expensive than less healthy, nutritionally poor foods. Products like lean meat, fish, fruit and vegetables generally cost more than oil-heavy processed foods which contain more sugar and fat. This makes the promotion of a quality diet difficult.

International research has shown that the best strategies for changing the dietary environment in favour of healthier foods are those aimed at population level, and are accomplished by mass media nutrition campaigns and transparent food labelling.

South Africa needs champions for child and adolescent health. The plight of young children needs to be prioritised and placed at the centre of the country’s goals.

An early investment in children’s health, education, development, security and well-being would provide benefits that compound during a person’s lifetime. It would improve their prospects – and those of their children and thus society as a whole.