Abstract:
Slum population in the world is estimated to be 1 billion and it is expected to further increase in
coming decades. Due to rapid urbanization in Pakistan, there has been drastic increase in slum
growth rate. Health of women in slums is a growing concern for Pakistan as they vulnerable to
risk factors that result in poor health outcome. Main aim of the study is to analyze the physical
health including level of energy, trouble getting to sleep, chronic disease and physical ailment
present among women in slum areas. It also aims to identify the factors that impact physical
health of women in slum areas such as socio-economic factors, living conditions and level of
health awareness. The target area is slum areas present in two municipal corporation of
Rawalpindi such as Rawal town and Potohar town Rawalpindi. A mix method is used for this
research study including both qualitative and quantitative data. Questionnaires were filled by
four hundred slum women and later on focus group discussions were conducted for qualitative
research. Chi square and linear regression has been employed to determine the statistical
relationship between the independent and dependent variables coupled with a thematic analysis
of the qualitative data to identify distinctive patterns in the data. Results show that physical
health of slum dwellers is below par as they belong to the marginalized segment of the society.
Due to poor socio-economic factors including marriage at young age, illiteracy, poverty, limited
decision making power, physical health of women in Rawalpindi slum areas is low.Moreover,
substandard living conditions including contaminated water issue, place and fuel for cooking ,
distance from dumping site, toilet availability and neighborhood act as major contributors in
worsening the physical health of slum women and low level of health awareness including
personal hygiene, frequency of falling sick and response to treatment takes a toll on physical
health status of slum women. Immediate action is required from health authorities to upgrade the
slum areas and take measures to improve female slum dweller’s health.
