Published Paper Details:

Slums are the face of urban poverty and illiteracy. According to the census 2011, the states with highest contribution to the slum population are Maharashtra (18%), Andhra Pradesh (15.6%) and West Bengal (9.8%). Alleviation of poverty is the most important weapon of improving general health. The income for the poor increases marginally, which makes it difficult to assure a better health condition in urban slums areas. According National Health Portal (2011), the MMR for India was 212/100,000 live births. About 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day. Maternal mortality ratio in developing countries in 2015 is 239 per 100 000 live births versus 12 per 100 000 live births in developed countries. The above data given by WHO gave an insight to study the present scenario of maternal health in urban slum. This study attempts to examine the socio-economic aspects and food intake of mothers dwelling in urban slums. Thus it will help to identify anomalies and aspects related to urban setting and poverty. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 women in the urban slums of Budge Budge, Kolkata. A pilot study was done and an interview schedule was prepared to seek information on socio economic status by using Kuppuswamy Scale. Data were also collected on health facilities and food intake which were analyzed and the results are presented in the form of tables. It was found that 66% percent of pregnant women had secondary education, followed by higher secondary (26%) and graduation (12%) level of education. Kuppuswamy scale shows that 50% of the subjects were from upper lower class and only 1.33% was from upper class. Among the 150 subjects, 45.33% had pucca house, 64.67% had toilet facility, 28 % had proper drainage system and 28% had appropriate source of drinking water at their home. The food intake depicts the actual nutritional status of the mothers.