**14. Interconnectedness of the different forms of poverty**

The interconnectedness of the different forms of poverty and their effect on health ought to be mentioned [33]. Systems thinking is therefore called for if health issues are to be addressed effectively. See **Figure 3** below.

**11**

affect health.

**Figure 4.** *Forms of poverty.*

**to reflect context**

transport costs etc.

*Poverty Is Not Poverty: The Reality on the Ground Including the Rural-Urban Divide…*

**Figure 4** shows how connected the different forms of poverty are and how they

As depicted above, **Figure 5**, the current interventions work differently for the poor and the rich. The poor often have no choice to change their environment, be it living or working environment, they live in unsafe neighbourhoods where it is unsafe to walk let alone access to a gym. Many church services are held at night. The poor are not safe to attend these spiritual opportunities depriving them of a freely available healing tool-spirituality. They eat what is cheap and this is often high in unsaturated fats, and they often miss check-ups due to

It is therefore easier for the well to do who get diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases to get back to the optimal health line. The current CVD interventions are pro rich. How can we make them pro poor? Doing so would mean addressing environmental and psychosocial factors and economic and health system factors. Context matters. The training of medical personnel should incorporate locally available nutrition that promotes health without making the poor sink into deeper poverty if they want to stay healthy. The currently recommended healthy diet should be high in fibre, green vegetables, fruit the year round, fish and low

**15. Adapting current medical interventions and training** 

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95901*

**Figure 3.** *Interconnectedness and the need for systems thinking.*

*Poverty Is Not Poverty: The Reality on the Ground Including the Rural-Urban Divide… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95901*

**Figure 4.** *Forms of poverty.*

*Lifestyle and Epidemiology - The Double Burden of Poverty and Cardiovascular Diseases...* 

Making people aware that being healthy is an asset can go a long way. In the HIV context too, little money is spent on preventive strategies. Some young people are not aware that being healthy, HIV negative is an asset worthy to be protected. Some seem not afraid of HIV saying if they get it, they will get onto treatment. The value

The environments in which many South Africans live are characterised by land poverty, environmental poverty, social or relational poverty, economic poverty, political poverty (lack of voice for some) and spiritual poverty, all of which lead to health poverty including cardiovascular health issues. See **Table 2** below.

**13. If I am healthy, I am rich (health rich)**

**Forms of poverty Effects**

of health as an asset seems not widely and explicitly valued?

Environmental poverty Causes stress, toxic exposures, violence

Land poverty Limits access to loans, one cannot grow own food

Economic poverty Reduces access to food and basics including health care

Time poverty Causes stress, loss of income Spiritual poverty Causes stress and hopelessness

Social or relational poverty Causes loneliness

Political poverty Lack of voice, stress

*How do these factors affect heart health?*

**14. Interconnectedness of the different forms of poverty**

issues are to be addressed effectively. See **Figure 3** below.

The interconnectedness of the different forms of poverty and their effect on health ought to be mentioned [33]. Systems thinking is therefore called for if health

Health poverty Decreases access to land, education, jobs, relationships, spirituality and increases health complications

**10**

**Figure 3.**

*Interconnectedness and the need for systems thinking.*

**Table 2.**

**Figure 4** shows how connected the different forms of poverty are and how they affect health.
