Inequity in Child Health: A Case Study of Slum in Chandigarh (Sector 25).

Globally more than billion people reside in urban slums. Residence in slums is a risk factor for a variety of adverse health outcomes. Health inequity in world’s burgeoning slums is the product of numerous complex, social, physical, economic, political and health inconveniences to children and their families due to extreme poverty, overcrowding, poor water and sanitation, substandard housing, limited access to basic health and education services, and other hardships (e.g, high unemployment, violence). Approximately one third of the  developing world’s urban population live in slums, including hundreds of millions of children, which  accounts for one quarter of the total global urban population. Despite the magnitude of this problem, very little is known about the potential impact of slum life on the health of children and adolescents. Statistics that show improved mortality and health outcomes in cities are based on aggregated data and may miss important intra-urban disparities. Limited but consistent evidence suggests higher infant and under-five years mortality for children residing in slums compared with non-slum areas. Children suffer from higher rates of diarrhoeal and respiratory illness, malnutrition and have lower vaccination rates. Mothers residing in slums are more poorly educated and less likely to receive antenatal care and skilled birth assistance.

The Paper observes the health inequalities in one of the Slum of Chandigarh, India highlighting the problems faced by the children and concludes that by providing attention   and understanding and   addressing child health in slum settings is an important priority for paediatricians and those committed to work for the rights of the children and child health worldwide concerted efforts are urgently needed to assess health burden among slum residents at the community level.