Almost 40% of the French have already been confronted with poverty. For these modest households, delaying or giving up medical care is an obligation.
Ten years after the economic crisis of 2007, more than half of the French are afraid of one day being confronted with poverty, reveals The 10e Ipsos barometer for the French Secours populaire. And they are even more numerous (83%) when it comes to their children. For this association, this anguish described by the people questioned once again illustrates the deterioration of the living conditions of the precarious and an increase in the number of people to help.
Because the results of this new survey and the reports of the various branches of the association converge: a large number of French people have fallen into poverty in recent years. In 2016, nearly one in four people surveyed said they had lived in poverty, especially women. A significant part of the French must learn to get by with few means and a few pieces of string.
Deprivation of care
Getting around, eating, getting dressed, taking care of oneself… For low-income households, difficult choices are required on a daily basis. The 2016 barometer shows that many people delay or completely abandon treatment, particularly in optics and dentistry. “Half of French people whose net monthly household income is less than 1,200 euros have already had to postpone or give up a consultation with a dentist (+22 points compared to 2008) and more than a third with an ophthalmologist (39 %; +9 points) ”, indicates Amandine Lama, research director at Ipsos Public Affairs. They are all the more inclined to forgo this care, which is sometimes essential, as having a mutual insurance fund is financially complicated for more than half of them. Work no longer seems to guarantee the possibility of healing.
“The 2016 barometer reveals the scars of a persistent crisis, but also of a weakening of French society. Social insecurity is gaining ground and in 2016, giving up healthcare has become a reality which increases the vulnerability of the poorest, ”deplores Fabienne Chiche, of the Secours populaire français.
A gloomy observation of which the French are well aware. Nearly 7 out of 10 French people questioned believe that inequalities in access to health have worsened in recent years. They are then very numerous to support associations like The French Secours populaire who invest in this field and offer the most disadvantaged to consult health professionals.
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