Publication

Children’s health in slum settings

Authored by:

Unger, A.

Full Citation:

Unger, A. 2013. Children’s health in slum settings. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 98(10).

Additional key concepts from this publication:

In slum settings, maternal and child health status are closely linked.

Key Evidence: Children in slums suffer from higher rates of diarrheal 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.

Children living in slum conditions who are at greater risk of infectious diseases than those in urban areas are less likely to be vaccinated.

Key Evidence: Children in slum settings have higher burdens of vaccine-preventable disease (one study found children in slums in Manila, Philippines were 9 times more likely to have tuberculosis than other urban children) and lower rates of immunization (a study in Niger found 35% coverage in slums vs. 86% in non-slum urban areas).