Urban Health and Care-Seeking Behavior: A Case Study of Slums in India and the Philippines

This report examines the health needs and care-seeking behavior of poor slum residents in two Asian cities – Indore, India and greater Manila, Philippines. The centerpiece of the study is a qualitative investigation set in four slums in Indore and two slums in greater Manila, where in-depth interviews of slum residents and health care providers were carried out. To supplement the qualitative analysis with quantitative background and context, we also conducted an analysis of the urban data from two recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for India and the Philippines and assembled a comprehensive portrait of poverty and health from these sources. The topics covered in the research include general health-seeking behavior and self-efficacy, family planning, maternal health, child health, tuberculosis, domestic violence and alcohol abuse, and environmental health and hygiene.