HOUSEHOLD INEQUALITY AND SLUM HEALTH IN NIGERIA

Stephen Chukwudeh, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

Household environment of slums which accommodates one quarter of the urban population worldwide is a critical unit for redistribution of poverty. This has implications for achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030. This study, therefore, examined the household inequality and slum health in Nigeria. The Ecological system theory and Health Belief Model were adopted as framework, while cross-sectional survey was utilized to administer questionnaire to 900 mothers of under-five children who lives in the selected slums. Income influences the health status of most (86.0%) residents in the slums. Open defecation (?2 = 14.09), irregular hand washing with soap after defecation (OR = 6.63), consumption of water from unimproved sources (OR = 2.05), and poverty were associated with negative health status of slum residents. Thus, there is need for strategic policy interventions to improve health equity, provide basic amenities to slums and create more conscious awareness on prevention of disease in the slums.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Health and Morbidity, Families, Unions and Households, Population, Environment, and Climate Change

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