Effect of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on the Morbidity Prevalence among the Urban Poor dwelling in uninhabitable environments of a South Indian city.

Abstract

Introduction. Slums have generally been dirty and unclean with shortage of water supply, inadequate lighting, sanitation facilities, overcrowded, coexistence of weak buildings, insufficient communication with lack of civic amenities. In such an environment, they are exposed to all type of communicable diseases. Catering the health needs of the urban poor is a major herculean task to the health system personnel. Hence, it is attempted to understand the role of age, education and income on the morbidity prevalence among the poor migrants dwelling in the Bangalore slums. Methods. A cross-sectional two-stage cluster random sampling design was used for selecting the slum households from various clusters in Bangalore city. Sample size for the quantitative survey was calculated according the relative precision method. By considering prevalence of utilization of government healthcare service, P of 15% allowing 10% error on P, 95% confidence interval, design effect 1.7and 5% of non-response rate, finally the sample size 3896 is calculated. Results. Illness were reported as 18.5% (n=1626) and 20.1% (n=1594) for males and females respectively and the difference between these proportions are statistically significant (P=0.008). Income and educational levels are significantly (P=0.000) associated on the morbidity prevalence. The infants’ morbidity rate is 17.1 and 38.1 for males and females respectively. Income and education have effective role on morbidity prevalence; both the variables are inversely associated on morbidity prevalence. Conclusion. Habitations in unhygienic and unplanned environment are the root cause for the suffering of migrants. The suffering could be due to illness, social and psychological issues. Generating employment opportunities and other infrastructures and facilities in the rural or near by the rural areas will inhibit the large scale migration which will reduce the sufferings of the vulnerable poor urban migrations.