Status of Women's Health in Urban Sub-Standard Settlements of Chennai, Tamil Nadu State, India

The women residing in sub-standard settlements in the city of corporation of Chennai, Tamil Nadu are not only economically and socially backward but also a neglected and marginalized section of society. The unhygienic environment of the slums coupled with sub-standard settlements bereft of basic amenities greatly compromise the health and wellbeing of the slum dwellers, especially the women. In addition, lack of proper in-take of nutritional foods adversely affects their health. Since their staple diet consists of only rice, obtained from ration shop, their diet is devoid of other foods that contain essential calorie to sustain them. The study has revealed that poor health status of women was also due to marriages at an early age, resulting in early age pregnancies and improper pregnancy spacing. The study was undertaken in two slums namely Namachivayapuram and Apparao garden of Zone – 8 in the corporation of Chennai. It is inferred that more than 31% of women have more than three children. A whopping 67% women delivered the first child before the age of 21, was a worrying discovery made from the study. More so, these young mothers do not get sufficient pre-natal and post-natal care to keep their heath and that of their children in an enhanced condition. It is heartening to note that no deliveries took place at their homes; instead all the deliveries were either at the government hospitals or private clinics. The environment at the government hospitals and primary health centers is quite unhygienic compared to private clinics. No woman likes the foul smell that emanates from government health care settings. The women prefer the primary health care centres for deliveries as they could hardly afford private clinics. As women are less educated their awareness standard in these matters is also very low.