Other states with high poverty levels among children include Arkansas at 24.6 percent, Mississippi at 28.1 percent, Louisiana at 28.7 percent, and New Mexico at 29.2 percent. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with 34.8 percent of children age 5-17 living in poverty. Poor children are also less likely to have a family doctor to see when they are sick. This means that when they are ill, they will most likely go to a hospital emergency room, the most expensive form of healthcare. Infant mortality rates in the first year are also higher among babies born to poor mothers.
Poor mothers are more likely to have premature babies or babies with low birth weights.
Poor children are more likely to have repeated a grade than children who are not living in poverty. Poor people are at greater risk of being evicted from their apartment than are the non-poor. They are also more likely to live in crowded, run-down homes. Many poor families struggle with bills, or have their utilities turned off. Other problems that the poor face are not having ready access to consumer durables such as washing machines, dryers, air conditioning units and cars.