Urban Slum Health

On this page

Urban Slums - Defining the Depths

  • UN-HABITAT Definition: A household lacking one or more:
    • Durable housing (permanent, protects from extreme climate).
    • Sufficient living area (≤ 3 people/room).
    • Access to improved water (safe, affordable, sufficient).
    • Access to improved sanitation (private or shared, hygienic).
    • Secure tenure (protection against forced eviction).
  • Census of India (2011) Definition:
    • Notified, Recognized, or Identified.
    • Identified: Area with ≥ 300 population or 60-70 households; poorly built, congested, unhygienic, lacking basic amenities.
  • Key Characteristics: Overcrowding, poor sanitation, unsafe water, insecure tenure, social exclusion. Urban slum conditions with makeshift housing

⭐ As per Census 2011, 17.4% of urban Indian households lived in slums, totaling 65.49 million people.

Slum Diseases - The Health Maze

  • Key Drivers: Overcrowding, poor sanitation, unsafe water, inadequate waste disposal.
  • Disease Spectrum:
    • Communicable Diseases (CDs):
      • Water-borne: Diarrhea, Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A/E.
      • Vector-borne: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Filariasis.
      • Air-borne: Tuberculosis (TB) (↑ risk), Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI).
    • Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs):
      • Growing burden: Hypertension, Diabetes.
      • Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma from indoor pollution).
    • Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Issues:
      • High IMR & MMR.
      • Malnutrition (PEM, anemia) in women & children.
      • Suboptimal immunization.
    • Other Prevalent Conditions:
      • Skin infections (scabies, fungal), worm infestations.
      • Mental health disorders.

⭐ Slums often face a "triple burden" of disease: communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and social/mental health issues including injuries.

Slum Determinants - Unpacking the Causes

  • Environmental Factors:
    • Overcrowding: ↑ disease transmission.
    • Poor WASH: Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation (e.g., open defecation), poor hygiene.
    • Pollution (air, water, noise); vector breeding.
    • Deficient waste & sewage disposal.
  • Socio-Economic Factors:
    • Poverty & Unemployment: Limits access to essentials (food, housing, healthcare).
    • Low Literacy: Impacts health awareness & practices.
    • Social Exclusion, Stressors (e.g., migration, violence).
  • Health System & Service Delivery:
    • Accessibility Barriers: Geographic, financial, social.
    • Availability Issues: Shortage of facilities, staff, medicines.
    • Poor Quality Care & Low health-seeking.

Social Determinants of Health Icons

⭐ Slums face a "triple burden" of disease: communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and injuries/violence.

Slum Solutions - Programs & Action

  • National Urban Health Mission (NUHM): Launched 2013.
    • Focus: Urban poor, especially slum dwellers & other vulnerable groups like homeless, rag-pickers.
    • U-PHC: 1 per 50,000-60,000 pop.
    • U-CHC: FRU for 4-5 U-PHCs.
    • ASHA (USHA): 1 per 1000-2500 pop. or 200-500 households.
    • ANM: 1 per 10,000 pop.
    • Mahila Arogya Samiti (MAS): Community action (50-100 households).
  • Key NUHM Strategies:
    • Strengthening existing health infrastructure.
    • Outreach services & mobile medical units.
    • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
    • Inter-sectoral convergence (WASH, nutrition).
    • BCC/IEC for health awareness. National Urban Health Mission: Strategies
  • Convergence: Key schemes like JSSK, JSY benefits; ICDS; Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

⭐ NUHM has a specific focus on the urban poor, including slum dwellers, by providing ASHA coverage of 1 per 1000-2500 population.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Slums: Defined by overcrowding, substandard housing, and inadequate basic services.
  • Predominance of communicable diseases (TB, diarrhea, ARI) and severe malnutrition.
  • Rising trend of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
  • Children <5 years and pregnant women are highly vulnerable populations.
  • National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) is the key program for urban slum health.
  • Major determinants: Poor sanitation, unsafe water, and limited healthcare access.
  • Health indicators (e.g., IMR, U5MR) often significantly worse than urban averages_._

Practice Questions: Urban Slum Health

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following is a criterion for overcrowding?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Urban Slum Health

1/10

In urban areas, 1 ASHA worker is assigned to a population of _____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

In urban areas, 1 ASHA worker is assigned to a population of _____

1000-2500

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial