Unmasking Health Inequities in the Slums of Hyderabad in India

Abstract

Although Hyderabad city in India offers unique opportunities for its residents to benefit from education, health and social services and to optimise their health and quality of life, at the same time health hazards such as poor housing conditions and lack of access to safe water and sanitation, etc., are causing health problems. The urban city of Hyderabad contains at the same time and within the same city the best and the worst for health and well-being.

This study used the two-stage random sampling technique for selecting slums in the first stage and households in the second stage. A total of four slums from the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) - one from an industrial area and three from non-industrial areas, one each from developed, medium developed and backward areas - were selected. The sample slums spread into different economic regions of the MCH. In the second stage, 75 households from each slum and a total of 300 households were selected.

The objective of this study was to know the determinants of health, health expenditure and access to health facilities in slums located in developed and backward areas. This study revealed that they were better in slums located in developed areas than in those in backward areas. This study suggests an involvement of organised communities and all levels of governments – local, state and national – for promoting urban health equity.