Whether Socio-Economic and Healthcare Development Contributes to Improve Health Outcomes for Urban Poor?

Whether Socio-economic and Healthcare Development Contributes to Improve Health Outcomes for Urban Poor?

Urban poor (people living in slums or shanty towns) are more vulnerable to health risks (as a consequence of their degraded living environment, poor access to healthcare, irregular employment, widespread illiteracy etc.) than other city dwellers. This paper examines whether improved access to healthcare affect their health outcomes in contemporary Indian communities.

The data are drawn from two nationwide surveys (NFHS) carried out in 1998-99 and 2005-06 segregated for urban poor (and non-poor), for six major states of India.  Outcome health indicators reflected on child mortality, women and children’ anemia and morbidity and TB. To depict the access to healthcare, use of flush toilet, children’ complete immunization and access to pre-school center etc. are chosen.   

Outcome health indicators depicted the neonatal, infant and child mortality and fertility levels, anemia among women and children, morbidity among children, adult HIV and TB. To reflect the socio-economic and healthcare developments; access to flush toilet, children’ complete immunization and access to pre-school centers, use of family planning methods, institutional deliveries, teenage motherhood and higher order births are used.

Analysis of trend in health outcomes is not very encouraging. In spite of a significant increase in the socio-economic and healthcare inputs, only neo-natal mortality has shown any notable increase. A multiple correlation analysis between two sets of variables indicates significant positive association between access to flush toilet and malnutrition and morbidity among children (health outcome indicators). It also reflects upon the importance of environmental conditions of living to improve the health outcomes for urban poor.