Özet:

Generally, poverty is defined as the lack of opportunities for people to meet their basic needs. Poverty affects all segments of society, especially women and children. Women are more affected by poverty because they have unequal access to rights and opportunities in all aspects of social life such as education, health care, employment and participation in decision-making. The increase in the poverty of women and the term poverty becoming synonymous with women has brought the concept of ‘feminization of poverty’. Since the problem is increasing day by day and affects more and more women, poverty has become a global problem more than a problem of countries. The effects of poverty are seen in every period of women’s life with all its negativity. In early ages, poverty causes problems for girls such as eating disorders, malnutrition, inadequate immunization and lack of opportunities of health care and education. In the elderly, it causes osteoporosis, staying alone, lack of access to health care due to social insecurity. In the literature, it is reported that the poverty has adverse effects on women’s health care services. In this context, the role of nurses is evident in management of the poverty, which is a factor affecting health. While addressing poverty, Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) emphasizes the importance of nurse to struggle for poverty and American Nurses Association (ANA) highlighted that in order to make equal access to health care, a nurse should be professional, and well-attended in socio-political activities. It is important for nursing profession to know effects of poverty on women’s health and being supportive. Also, a nurse should take a place in public policies, civil society to fight against poverty.

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