Poverty and Health: A Crisis Among America's Most Vulnerable

Despite living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, far too many low-income and no-income men, women, and children in this nation are without health insurance or health care. More than half of those financially bereft have a serious health problem, with poor children three to five times more likely to experience chronic health issues than their more affluent peers. This set is a compilation of writings that address the complex problem of poverty and health across location and population. Through two informative volumes, the authors examine key issues including health care delivery, access, and disparities among various disenfranchised populations. Leading experts explore the reciprocal relationship between economic disadvantage and poor health, and ponder potential solutions to cope with these challenges.

Kevin M. Fitzpatrick, PhD, is professor of sociology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. His published works include Unhealthy Cities: Poverty, Race, and Place in America and Unhealthy Places: The Ecology of Risk in the Urban Landscape. Fitzpatrick received his doctorate in sociology at the State University of New York at Albany.