European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Children are the future of a developing nation, and their health is a vital indicator of their growth. School going children belonging to slums are more disposed to diseases due to unacceptable and unsatisfactory living conditions. Hence, there is a need to identify them and their health problems so that proper interventions can be installed to improve their quality of life.
Aim: To asses the morbidity pattern of children living in an urban slum. 
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children in the age group of 0–18 years in one of the urban slums of Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The total population of the urban slum named Misarwadi is 20,400 with ten wards. The total number of houses is 6306, which has a 0–18 year old population of 7621. The baseline survey was conducted with the help of paramedical workers about the demographic composition of the slum area. A total duration of six months (October 2021 to March 2022) was required for doing this study. The calculated sample size required for performing this study was 261. A total of 300 children between 0 and 18 years of age were enrolled in the study, consisting of 170(56.66%) males and 130(43.34%) females.
 Results: The overall prevalence of morbidity among these children was found to be 49.67% (149/300). Malnutrition was the paramount morbidity found in 81(27%) children, followed by dental caries 43(14.33), ARI 14(4.66%), viral fever 8(2.66%), eye problems (4 conjunctivitis and 3 squint) 7(2.33), worm infestation 6 (2%), and diarrhoea 5(1.66%). We also observed other morbidities like gingivitis, injury, dysmenorrhoea, juvenile diabetes mellitus, and tonsillitis. Comparatively, the prevalence of morbidity among females was significantly higher than that among males.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of various morbidities were found to be higher among children residing in an urban slum. Regular health surveys, medical camps and treatment facilities for children in slum areas are important, with special attention to the needs of female children.