Health Affliction and Social Diligence of Slum Women

Abstract

Background:Due to rapid urbanization health status of people living in urban slums becomes a topic of priority for public health and urban health planners. Living conditions have a direct impact on public health. One of the biggest challenges that face urban planners worldwide is the proliferation of slums in urban areas and the host of health hazards that they bring along in their wake. This paper presents a health affliction and social diligence of slum women in Anand district.Aims and Objectives: To find out the status of women (in slum areas) in terms of adjustment and support system in their family. To understand the association between background personal profile of the respondents and their health condition. Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive, cross- sectional observation study conducted over a period of six months. 819 slum women within the age group of 16 years to 66 years; were selected using systematic random sampling method from the 8 slum pockets, exists on the national highway no. 8 and adjoining the railway track. Results: Majority of the respondents i.e 89% were migrants from Bihar, Orissa, U.P and M.P. Only 15% women eat together as a family, while 65% eat in last, 10% eat which was left over of children and 5% survive on snacks given at the workplace. 63% have skin problems, 44% have eye problems, 57% have dental problems. 16% have expressed conflict with husband due to alcoholism and 8% due to extra- marital sex of husband. Conclusion: Inspite of shouldering multiple responsibilities such as bread- earner, wife, mother, daughter-in-law, daughter, sister; almost all slum women have no/ little stake in the family and they are victimised to extremely poor health care.