Morbitiy Among Urban Children in India. Distinctions Between Slum and Non-slum Areas

Abstract Although there is evidence of a remarkable decline in infant and child mortality in developing countries during the last quarter of the twentieth century, the incidence and the prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhoea and deficiency symptoms such as anaemia and undernutrition among children still persists at an alarmingly high level. especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asian countries. The present study investigates the demographic and socio-economic risks of adverse health conditions during childhood as measured according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3, 2005-06 data. The multiple regression analyses show that children belonging to the lower socio-economic strata and those in slum areas are more susceptible to health risks (both acute and chronic conditions) compared to non-slum children; household income, child's current age, birth weight, maternal education, religion and caste etc. have very significant influence on child health status in urban India.