Break the Cycle Africa

Children who grow up in circumstances of social and economic disadvantage are at greater risk for exposure to adverse environmental factors and are more likely to suffer adverse health and developmental consequences. These adverse consequences operate during pregnancy in utero, play out in the perinatal period and persist into childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. They not only affect health and wellbeing of the children, but also affect their education and employment opportunities which results in limited earning potential. The limited income, in turn, reduces access to critically necessary resources for their children to grow, develop, and reach their full potential, thus perpetuating poverty and an intergenerational Cycle of Health Disparities (see cycle diagram below).