Slum Women Research Articles

A Study on Using Contraception in Dhaka City: A Scenario from Slum Area

Family planning programs are still considered to be an important way to control the rapid population growth of Bangladesh. In this context, a study has conducted to unveil the scenario of using contraception in slum area of Dhaka City. Sample survey has used as a main method of research in this study. The study found that the slum women are using different types of contraceptive like as pill, IUD, injection, condom, etc. As a result of these uses they also suffered different types of problems including weakness, increasing weight, vomiting, menstrual problems, etc. In this study, it also found that anemia, urine problem, labor pain are common problems faced by women during pregnancy. In this regard, malnutrition problems also compounded this situation. It is remarkable that hospital, clinic and huts are the place of birth of their children. Radio, television, newspaper and other mass media should come forward to encourage male participation and responsibility in contraceptive method choice. Appropriate policy should develop by considering the related factors to increase contraceptive knowledge among grass root level of Bangladesh.

A study to assess the utilization of health care services among fishermen communities in urban slums of Visakhapatnam city: a cross sectional study

Background: In spite of an extensive primary health care system exists in India, yet it is inadequate in terms of coverage of the population, especially in rural areas and urban slums, and gross underutilization. Assessment of the utilization of health services is important for the health of a nation. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted during October 2012- September 2013 among 215 families residing in Kotha Jalaripeta fishermen community of urban slums of Visakhapatnam city. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data and was analyzed using SPSS 20 and valid inferences were drawn. Results: Majority (60.9%) of the slum dwellers preferred Government hospitals for adult health problems and (56.3%) for child health problems. Majority (82.4%) of them utilized Government Hospitals for maternal health services and (73.5%) for Inpatient care. Majority (80.9%) of them preferred Anganwadi centers for immunization services. Antenatal care utilization by slum women was found satisfactory. Conclusions: This study revealed a relatively higher utilization of government health services for different health problems when compared to the other studies regarding various aspects and dimensions of health services. But still health problems exist to a great extent and there is an urgent need to improve health services in urban slums.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Food Insecurity among Women Aged 18-49 Years in Kampala Slums Uganda; A Mixed Methods Study

While much focus has been put on rural household food insecurity, with increasing urbanisation leading to urban slum formation, food insecurity is potentially on the rise particularly among women of reproductive age (WRA). We determined the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity among women aged 18-49 years in Makindye slums of Kampala capital city, Uganda. In a community based cross-sectional study, we recruited a random sample of 573 women aged 18-49 years, resident in the slums for at least one year prior to the study. Quantitative data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires while qualitative information was obtained through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Multivariable logistic regression (using STATA® 13) and manifest content analysis methods were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Of the 573 participants, 60.7% were aged 20-34 years, 53.7% were married/cohabiting, 12.2% had no formal education and 82.5% lived in rented homes. Overall 88.5% of the women were food insecure of which 68.4% were severely food insecure. Factors that increased likeli hood of food insecurity were; socioeconomic factors such as absence of electricity in the household (AOR; 2.2, 95%CI: 1.05-4.86, p = 0.036) and having more than one school going child (AOR; 2.6, 95%CI: 1.42-4.89, p = 0.002). Qualitative findings indicate that food insecurity is indeed a problem among women in the slums with unemployment, high food prices, poverty and increasing number of household members reported as the major causes of food insecurity. The prevalence of food insecurity among women in Kampala slums is high. These findings suggest the need to invest in economic empowerment of women with emphasis on those living in deprived communities.

The Everyday lives and coping Strategies of women in Delhi; Discerning roots of Psychological Empowerment: An Ethnographic Study

This is an ethnographic study based on inductive reasoning inspired by everyday life coping of slum women in Delhi. Evidences from field work were found to be congruent with the underlying assumptions of Humanistic and analytical psychology, perspectives which ascertain positive human values and life orientation such as growth, and fulfillment, making it difficult to completely neglect strategies for adaptability, positive coping, and adjustment, which are having a positive influence in everyday lives of slum women in their day-day life. The focus of this study is not to explore the daily life concerns, but to highlight how these concerns are addressed by slum women, with regard to their coping strategies. The objective of this study was to bring into light the phenomenon of positive adaptability towards daily life concerns, in context with slum women by exploring three coping strategies given by Endler and Parker. Task-oriented strategy, Emotion-oriented strategy, and, Avoidance-oriented strategy three categories which were used to categorize the responses towards daily life stressors. Finally this study attempts to fill in the prevailing literature gap in the context of the conceptualization of psychological empowerment for slum women based on the findings of this study and trace the roots of psychological empowerment using the perspectives of psychology. This study illustrates analysis of ethnographic records of 50 informants from various slums in Delhi.

Awareness of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer among women in urban slums of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Due to this disease 80 percent die at an advance stage. This may be due to lack of awareness and knowledge, lack of access to proper treatment including screening facility. This study is undertaken with an objective to investigate knowledge attitude, practice and health seeking behaviour about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cervical cancer among eligible women in a slum community in Mumbai.Methods: Baseline data of women was drawn from an intervention study entitled “Enhancing knowledge and promoting health seeking behaviour of couples on sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer in urban slums of Mumbai” for this article. This data was collected from a random sample of 1958 women in reproductive age group through a semi-structured interview schedule from two urban slums of Mumbai. Information was collected on socio-economic and demographic characters, awareness and symptoms of STIs and cervical cancer, and health seeking behaviour.Results: The study revealed that majority of women had heard about the STIs, 37.7 percent were aware of cervical cancer whereas only 3.6 percent of women were aware of Pap smear test. About 11 percent of women experienced at least one symptom of STI, 0.3 percent of women reported of having sexual partner other than spouse. Most women were not aware of STIs symptoms specific to men.Conclusions: Study concludes that the need to disseminate knowledge regarding STI symptoms, cervical cancer and Pap smear test for early detection of cervical cancer as well as promoting better health seeking behaviour with respect to cervical cancer and STIs. Considering of sensitivity of the topic it is necessary to design separate programmes for women.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Women in Slums of Pimpri, Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra, India, regarding Usage of Mishri

Mishri is one of the form of smokeless tobacco, which is a roasted, powdered preparation made by baking tobacco on a hot metal plate until it is uniformly black, after which it is powdered. It is noted that mishri use is more commonly used by the women of low socioeconomic status, hence the need was felt to conduct this study among women mishri users of slums. Also, the consequences of mishri use are little known, hence an effort is made to find out its ill-effect on oral health. To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among women using mishri regarding its effects on their oral and general health. A 6-month KAP study was conducted among 100 women who were using mishri. Snowball sampling was used. Oral examination of the participants was also done for oral potentially malignant disorders, such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and hyperkeratinized pouch. About 61% of the population used mishri for cleaning the teeth and others used it as quid; 0.85% of the total participants knew that the use of mishri may lead to precancerous lesions/conditions. Only 17% knew that mishri use can cause gum disease; 84% of the population was willing to quit the habit of using mishri. It is concluded that all the participants had poor knowledge. Attitude toward quitting mishri use was found to be good. About 4% of the participants reported about quitting the habit. There is need to create awareness regarding harmful effects of mishri usage in this particular area to improve oral health status.

To Pad or Not to Pad: Towards Better Sanitary Care for Women in Indian Slums

AbstractA number of programmes have recently been initiated to popularise the use of sanitary pads among poor women in developing countries. In this light, we review the prevailing menstrual practices in different contexts across India, as well as the initiatives undertaken to improve sanitary care. We also report findings from a study amongst women in slums of Hyderabad. We find high usage of sanitary pads (56 to 64 percent), suggesting that development initiatives have percolated down to the urban poor. Furthermore, we find that although a large number of cloth users (57 percent) are willing to change practice, an overwhelming number of them (94 percent) elicit a preference for re‐usable cloth pads. This suggests a disengagement with public policy discourses on menstrual care that have so far focused singularly on promotion of sanitary pads. We draw upon these results to comment on better sanitary care for women slum dwellers in a rapidly urbanising context. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Family planning use; Prevalence, pattern and predictors among women in an urban slum in Enugu, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION:High fertility,high birth rates and low family planning prevalence rate is a common feature in developing countries with consequent rapid population growth. Family planning has saved the lives and protected the health of millions of women and children. This study aims to ascertain prevalence, pattern and predictors of family planning use among women living in an urban slum. METHODOLOGY: It was a Community based,descriptive cross sectional study using questionnaire. Chi square test was used to assess associations of socio-demographics characteristics with ever used and currently using family planning. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of family planning use. RESULT: Of the 281 women studied, 50.5% of respondents have used family planning method before and 35.6% still using. Commonly used methods include;withdrawal (30.2%),condom (26.7%) and abstinence (26.7%) while the least used were sterilization (1.1%) and BTL (1.4%).About 79.7% of non-users cited fear of side effects as the major reason and9.3% discontinued due to side effects. There were statistically significant association of age,marital status, occupation and number of children with ever used family planning (all p 35 years 0.32 (95% CI: 0.122-0.83) likely to have ever used family planning than those aged 24 years and below. Equally those with 1-3 children were 0.25 (95% CI: 0.08-0.80) likely and those that had> 3 children 0.22 (95% CI: 0.06-0.81) likely to have ever used family planning than those with no children. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of family planning is poor. Fear of side effects, inconvenience and religion played a major role in the reduction of use of family planning. Identified predictors were age and number of children. There is need to increase access, reduce cost and improve promotion on services like counselling to enable informed choices which will ultimately increase family planning uptake.

Jardín de historias: Releer la violencia hacia la mujer en una favela carioca

Jardín de historias: Releer la violencia hacia la mujer en una favela carioca

Awareness and Self-Perceived Risk of Cervical Cancer among Women Living in Namuwongo, an Informal Settlement in Kampala, Uganda

Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women of reproductive age in sub Saharan Africa. However there is limited data on the level of awareness and perceived risk among women in peri urban slums of which most of the occupants are mainly women of reproductive age. Methods: We carried out a population based cross-sectional study in Namuwongo, a peri urban slum in Kampala in 2016. Data was collected using a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire, entered and analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Results: Most participants, 259/311 (83.3%) had heard about cervical cancer and (87.5%) knew that cervical cancer can be prevented by early detection. Their main sources of information included Media such as radio and TV (47.6%) and healthcare professionals at the health facility (37.6%), friends and family (14.1%). Almost half of the participants (47.9 %) didn't know about the possibility of prevention of cervical cancer through HPV vaccination. About 219/311 (70.4%) perceived themselves to be at risk for cervical cancer in this study. Although majority had heard about cervical cancer, 209 (67.2%) didn't know of any signs and symptoms of cervical cancer and the mean age of HPV vaccination mentioned was 2.41 (± 0.77), much younger than the current recommended age category of 10-14 years. The mean age for starting screening was 10.77 (± 9.87) compared to the normal recommended age of screening 21 and above. Conclusion: Most of participants in this study had heard about cervical cancer although their knowledge of symptoms, preventive measures and importance of cervical cancer screening was low. Majority of the women perceived that they were at risk of developing cervical cancer although they were hardly knowledgeable of any reasons for their perceptions. There is need for more public awareness campaigns to provide detailed in-depth information to enhance knowledge on cervical cancer in informal settlements like slum populations.

A comparative situation analysis on pre-cancerous lesions among slum and brothel dwelling women and average housewives who fall within the reproductive age group and living in Bangladesh

A comparative situation analysis on pre-cancerous lesions among slum and brothel dwelling women and average housewives who fall within the reproductive age group and living in Bangladesh

Effects of health education tool on select epidemiological factors associated with adult obese urban slum women.

National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-2006) India, found that 14.8% of Ever-Married Adults (age 15-49 years) had Body Mass Index (BMI) in the ranges of overweight and obese; compared to 10.6% in the National Family Health Survey-2. These figures highlighted the fact that India already faces a dual burden of chronic malnutrition, i.e., obesity, besides undernutrition. Higher BMI, especially, increased abdominal fat is an important determinant of the development of diabetes. This study aims to understand the effect of health education on obesity status of adult women above the age of 20 years in an urban slum area. Community-based, interventional study, to assess select epidemiological factors associated with obesity-including measurement of anthropometry and assessing random blood sugar level; followed by an intervention (health education to only obese women by means of flip-chart); followed by a follow-up 6 months later. About 22.6% women were found to be obese. Almost, all dietary and physical activity parameters as well as weight improved for the better after the intervention, and the change was statistically significant. This community based interventional study was able to understand certain factors associated with pathophysiology of obesity in slum dwelling adult women, and effectively documented a reduction in weight along with a change in their obesogenic practices postintervention.

Migrant Adolescent Girls in Urban Slums India: Aspirations, Opportunities and Challenges

Migrant adolescent girls in India’s fast-growing urban-slum population face multiple intersecting vulnerabilities, including gender, poverty and migrant-status. The study aims to understand the opportunities and challenges for migrant adolescent girls in low-income urban slum settings. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with girls aged 12-19 who migrated during the past two years and non-migrant adolescent girls for comparison to explore their experiences in fast-growing Indore. A group-interview with slum women’s group members discussed ways to address challenges. Push/pull factors linked with different employment/educational opportunities between rural and urban areas motivated families of unmarried girls to migrate. Recently married girls joined city-based families or accompanied husbands who were labor migrants. Neither married nor unmarried girls played decision-making roles in migration. Married migrant adolescent girls faced challenges in accessing education, employment, social opportunities and services owing to restrictions on freedom of movement, weak social networks, and little awareness of opportunities and services. Childbearing migrant girls faced particular risks. Contact with their natal families being limited, the quality of relationship with husbands and marital families was crucial for married girls’ well-being. Unmarried girls attending schools were positive about the migration experience, perceiving the city to offer greater educational opportunities. Through school, they accessed opportunities for new relationships and social activities. Not all unmarried adolescent-girls were able to access opportunities owing to family restrictions and economic circumstances. These girls’ worlds remained small despite moving to a large city. Where girls’ economic and/or family and social circumstances allowed, migration entailed a positive change that enhanced their opportunities. Specific challenges of this population segment need focus in policies and programs, prioritizing three particularly vulnerable groups: girls who are neither in education nor employment, pregnant girls or new mothers, and those with difficult relationships in marital homes. Proactive outreach to raise awareness about opportunities and services and fostering social networks through frontline workers and slum-women’s groups are recommended.

Prevalence of induced abortions and contraceptive use among married women in an urban slum of Delhi, India.

To document abortion practices and contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in an urban slum of Delhi. Data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban resettlement colony in the North East District of Delhi between November 2010 and December 2011. Systematic random sampling was used to enroll 200 married women aged 15-49years from each of the four blocks of the colony. Participants were interviewed and data were entered into a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Among 802 participants, 284 (35.4%) reported at least one spontaneous or induced abortion, and 196 (24.4%) reported induced abortions. Unsupervised medical termination was reported by 78 (27.5%) of the 284 women. Overall, only 207 (25.8%) women practiced any type of contraception. The predominant decision maker regarding contraception was the husband for 95 (45.9%) women and the mother-in-law for 78 (37.7%). There is a need for focused community-based education to address specific issues, particularly regarding the dangers of unsafe abortion and choosing a method of contraception in consultation with a healthcare practitioner.

Perceptions of gender-based violence around public toilets in Mumbai slums

ABSTRACTThe lack of adequate public toilets and associated gender-based violence around their use is a matter of concern in many developing countries and has recently come to the forefront of the political agenda and media discourse in India. Previous research suggests the absence of lighting, inadequate provision of basic sanitation, poor design and siting of toilets, and lack of police presence in slums as facilitators for violence against women. However, the evidence is often anecdotal and usually unsystematic. The exact extent of crimes against women in these circumstances is unknown because unsurprisingly women in slums rarely report crimes to the police, either due to fear or lack of access. The research reported in this paper gauges women’s perception and experience of crime and violence around different types of public toilets in two slums areas in Mumbai, India. A survey of 142 households indicated that although women’s fear of crime was higher than their actual experience, the perception of insecurity was not uniform for all toilet types and locations. Findings also indicated that there was at least minimal provision of toilet facilities, basic security features, water, and electric supply in the research sites. Furthermore, greater police presence and previous contact with the police in one slum area led for greater confidence in reporting offences to the police as compared to the other. Overall, better provision of lighting and regular police patrols were considered by a majority of those surveyed to reduce fear of crime around toilets.

The Effect of Changing Proximate Determinants on Fertility Levels among Urban Poor Women in Kenya: Evidence from Nairobi’s Informal Settlements, 2000-2012

Slum dwellers constitute an increasing share of urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper examines changes in proximate determinants of fertility in slums in Nairobi, Kenya between 2000 and 2012. We used data from the Nairobi Cross-sectional Slum Surveys (NCSS) conducted in in all Nairobi’s informal settlements, among 3,256 women aged 15-49 in 2000 and 4,240 aged 12-49 in 2012. We employed Stover’s revised proximate determinants of fertility framework to assess the relative contribution of contraception, marriage, sterility and postpartum insusceptibility to the fertility levels between 2000 and 2012. There has been a change in the influence of the proximate determinants in Nairobi’s slums. Marriage as measured by recent sexual activity had the largest inhibiting effect in 2000, whereas contraception had the largest effect in 2012. Findings suggest the need to sustain and/or strengthen FP/SRH initiatives that emphasize contraceptive use among women in urban slums in Kenya

Employment and Income Status of Disadvantaged Women-A Comparative Analysis between Some Selected Urban and Rural Areas of Khulna District

This study mainly discusses a comparative analysis between status of urban and rural disadvantaged women. For surviving the livelihood women work in both area works hard. Moreover, their income depends on seasonal variation and rural women also suffer from uncertainty of income. The study is based on empirical data collected through household survey and personal interviews with disadvantaged women of village Shiromoni and Rupsha slum and its adjacent area under Khulna district. This analysis looks into the condition of such women and the present GO and NGO programs toward their economic improvement. Thus, to achieve better social structure, the Government and its development partners need to re-orient their programs and implement an effective affirmative action for the disadvantaged women.

Treatment seeking behavior for sexually transmitted infections/reproductive tract infections among married women in urban slums of Mumbai, India

Sexually Transmitted Infections/Reproductive Tract Infections (STIs/RTIs) are a major public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity among men and women in developing countries. The aim of the study is to explore treatment seeking behavior among the married women of reproductive age presented with symptoms of STI/RTI. A hospital-based observational study was carried out at the STI/RTI Clinic of Urban Health Centre, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Mumbai, India. The study involved a total of 273 married females who attended clinic for their symptoms during January to March 2012. Patients were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire to explore the detail of the treatment seeking behavior regarding STIs/RTIs. Out of total women who participated in the study, only 47.6% of the women with STIs/RTIs symptoms sought health care. Among those who did not seek treatment, 58.65 % females were belonging to 21-25 years of age group. Maximum 65.6% females who were illiterate had not sought any treatment for symptoms of these diseases as compared to 65% who had taken treatment for the presented symptoms who were educated up to higher secondary and above level. 62.5% females belonging to class V had never sought treatment as compared to 100% women who were classified to class I. The poor health seeking behavior was associated with literacy and socioeconomic class of the participants. Private sector was the most favored place for taking treatment by them. Commonest reason for not seeking treatment was no female doctor at clinic. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) sessions, about STI symptoms and the benefits of treat-ment, especially targeted at women and low socioeconomic groups might be an immediately feasible measure that will help to reduce the burden of the disease.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(2) 2015: 65-70

Contraceptive method choice among women in slum and non-slum communities in Nairobi, Kenya.

BackgroundUnderstanding women’s contraceptive method choices is key to enhancing family planning services provision and programming. Currently however, very little research has addressed inter and intra-regional disparities in women’s contraceptive method choice. Using data from slum and non-slum contexts in Nairobi, Kenya, the current study investigates the prevalence of and factors associated with contraceptive method choice among women.MethodsData were from a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted among a random sample of 1,873 women (aged 15–49 years) in two non-slum and two slum settlement areas in Nairobi, Kenya. The study locations were purposively sampled by virtue of being part of the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the association between the outcome variable, contraceptive method choice, and explanatory variables.ResultsThe prevalence of contraceptive method choice was relatively similar across slum and non-slum settlements. 34.3 % of women in slum communities and 28.1 % of women in non-slum communities reported using short-term methods. Slightly more women living in the non-slum settlements reported use of long-term methods, 9.2 %, compared to 3.6 % in slum communities. Older women were less likely to use short-term methods than their younger counterparts but more likely to use long-term methods. Currently married women were more likely than never married women to use short-term and long-term methods. Compared to those with no children, women with three or more children were more likely to report using long term methods. Women working outside the home or those in formal employment also used modern methods of contraception more than those in self-employment or unemployed.ConclusionUse of short-term and long-term methods is generally low among women living in slum and non-slum contexts in Nairobi. Investments in increasing women’s access to various contraceptive options are urgently needed to help increase contraceptive prevalence rate. Thus, interventions that focus on more disadvantaged segments of the population will accelerate contraceptive uptake and improve maternal and child health in Kenya.

Food Store Choice Among Urban Slum Women Is Associated With Consumption of Energy-Dense Food.

The aim of this study was to examine the associations of food store choice with food consumption among urban slum women. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 188 urban slum women (19-50 years old) in Jakarta, Indonesia. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess food consumption. Associations between food consumption and food store choice were tested by linear regression. This study found that frequencies of buying food from small shops (warung), street food vendors, and modern food stores were significantly associated with consumption of snacks, mixed dishes, and fruit respectively. In addition, buying food from traditional markets and small cafes (warung makan) was not significantly associated with particular types of food consumption. As modern food stores are rarely utilized by these women, small shops (warung) and street food vendors are likely to be important channels to improve slum dwellers' diet.