Child Health and Human Development Social, Economic and Environmental Factors

The literature on children who grow up in circumstances of social and economic disadvantage is very much a part of the place and time. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote much about children who suffered under the burden of being poor in 19th Century London. In that age of industrialisation, technical advances brought much progress to society, but also resulted in seismic population shifts. Large numbers of people moved from rural agricultural settings and lifestyles to the cities, where the new engines of industry promised more opportunities. We have progressed today, but there are still many children living under vulnerable conditions that affect their development, health and future. In this book, we have gathered research studies that explore social, economic and environmental factors impacting on child health and human development.