Poverty and child outcomes: a focus on Jamaican youth

Compared with children from more affluent families, poor children face a higher risk of developmental delays and fare worse on various measures of developmental outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between poverty and child outcomes in the Jamaican context. Specifically, the paper focuses on the detrimental consequences for poor Jamaican children. The literature is reviewed on the effects of economic disadvantage on children and the short- and long-term implications for individuals and society is discussed. In addition, the modus operandi and implications for human development utilizing a theoretical model that hypothesizes the associations among economic deprivation and various aspects of child well-being is examined. Suggestions to policy makers for addressing the issues related to economically deprived families and children are offered.