Study links debt with ill health in women

Being in debt is a major cause and consequence of ill health among women in Ireland, a new study has claimed.

Research conducted by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) and the Women's Health Council revealed that almost 70 per cent of women surveyed identified a link between debt and their health problems.

The Women's Health Council said the study highlighted that we still live in one of "the most unequal of societies" and living on a low income was identified as the most common contributory factor to women's debt.

"We already know that women in less well-off socio-economic groups are at a great disadvantage with regard to health and have been found to be at greater risk of developing poor health," Geraldine Luddy of the Women's Health Council said.

The Women's Health Council is a statutory body which advises the Minister for Health, while the Mabs is a publicly-funded, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt.

Their collaborative study revealed that 81 per cent of women mentioned their mental or emotional health during their consultation with the Mabs, most commonly mentioning stress, depression and anxiety.

Some 27 per cent of respondents also said debt affected the health of their family.

The authors of the study said it focused on women because they comprise almost two-thirds of clients attending the Mabs debt advice service, and because women in Ireland are at a higher risk of poverty and indebtedness.

Some 12 per cent of women surveyed did not have a medical card or a GP visit card despite being on low income, while 15 per cent of women with a disability felt ill health had contributed to their debt.

"The relationship between health and debt is widely recognised in our service," said Gwen Harris of the Mabs. "Illness can cause financial difficulties through loss of income and paying for treatment often means people fall behind with rent, loan and utility bill payments."

The study recommends the introduction of income policies to support those surviving on the lowest incomes. It also calls for the introduction of schemes providing people with access to affordable credit.