Volume 6, Number 2

Lost Voices: Life and Health of Children in a South-West Delhi Slum

  Authors

Sonalika Ray, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India

  Abstract

Background

The slum population in India is mushrooming at an alarming rate. Economic deprivation and social and physical decay in these slums are leading to a formidable increase in health problems. The most severely affected are the young children in these slum clusters as they are exposed to harsh living standards. The study was conducted in the Kishangarh slum in South-West Delhi in November 2018 during a health camp conducted by an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) in Kishangarh. 469 children attended the health camp. The collected data was recorded in pretested questionnaires and entered into Microsoft Excel 2007 and Google Spreadsheet.

Results

63.34% of the total number of children have minimal heath issues. Weight of 40.93% of these children is lower than the normal body weight. 36.66% of these children are suffering from acute health problems and require immediate attention.

Conclusion

The study asserts that comprehensive action needs to be taken in order to make sure of health care delivery to each and every disadvantaged child in the nation.

  Keywords

slums, child health, health camp, healthcare.