Children

• Published in: Social Injustice and Public Health
• Main Authors: Rosenbaum, Sara, Johnson, Kay A.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01.08.2013
• ISBN: 0199939225; 9780199939220
• DOI: 10.1093/med/9780199939220.003.0005

This chapter focuses on the impact of social injustice on children, primarily in the United States, emphasizing children’s rights in a legal context. It begins with the discussion of the legal status of children in society, citing international standards and United States law. It describes how social injustice affects the health needs of children. It describes how poverty, environmental hazards, and other factors threaten the health of children. It analyzes the underlying factors and roots of social injustice that affects children, including maldistribution of income and failure to invest in the neediest families. The chapter concludes with a discussion of what needs to be done and the roles of health workers in addressing social injustice that affects children. A textbox describes how the United States compares with other developed countries in addressing the needs of children. Another textbox focuses on saving children’s lives in developing countries.