Neglect is a truly wretched cycle. When a child's parents cannot afford and value things like basic dietary nutrition and care, it creates cerebral abnormalities [1] due to lack of neuro-cognitive development.

It's then up to half-hearted social/governmental intervention to prevent it from becoming the same for the child's eventual offspring - a hail Mary that rarely lands with some individuals getting on a better path.

[1] https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2012/07...