The Status of Living Place and the Health Condition of Women in the Slum of Chennai City, Tamil Nadu

This research has explored the health status of women from the slums of Chennai city Tamil Nadu State. In fact, most of the slums in the city of Chennai in general do not have proper sanitation facilities. Therefore, they attend the call of nature by going behind the bushes situated alongside railway tracks. Women prefer to go for open defecation under cover of darkness, either late in the evening or early morning. Environmental scenario in slums is usually unsafe and therefore, it is a matter of concern as it poses serious threats to the health and wellbeing of slum dwellers in general and pregnant women and lactating mothers in particular. The study brings out the reasons for the rising health problems faced by women in slums due to general environmental condition, lack of potable water supply, sanitation system and poor nutrition (Panda 1993). The study analyses various other reasons associated with poor living condition of the women and its impact on the health of the slum population. Interview Schedule was used to elicit the primary data from 80 women from 4 informal settlements in Pudupet area of Egmore. This study adopted descriptive research design to understand the general health conditions of women and also explain their health status and health seeking behaviour. The unhygienic environment of the slums and lack of basic amenities affect the health and wellbeing of the slum dwellers in general and women and children in particular. Normally, women do not take healthy diet as they have to take care of their family members, particularly their children. Lack of healthy diet and nutritional foods greatly affect their health. It is due to poverty, women take rice mostly obtained from the ration shops. This study clearly reveals that women’s poor health status is mainly because of early marriage, early pregnancy and improper pregnancy spacing. Moreover, the study discloses that more than 36% of women have more than three children. A whopping 87% of the women delivered their first child before the age of 21. As women are less educated, their level of awareness on health and wellbeing is also very low. Therefore, findings of the study suggest that the problem of the poor living conditions of women have to be addressed by the health departments, government agencies, Chennai corporations and slum clearance board.