Socio-Demographic Determinants in Urban ‘In-migrants’ of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Introduction: Rapid urban growth largely manifests itself in the expansion of already crowded squatter settlements and slums, placing enormous strain on public resources and presenting chal- lenges for local health authorities. To identify the socio- demographic and other related factors of urban in-migrants of dis- tricts Dehradun & Haridwar of Uttarakhand.

Methods: An observational, cross sectional study was planned among 09 settlements/slums of Urban in-migrants from districts Dehradun & Haridwar of Uttarakhand. Multi-stage & systematic random sampling method was chosen for probability sample of 609 households constituting 3485 females of reproductive age- group (15-49 years) as study population.

Results: Maximum number of in-migrants was from the state of Bihar (33%) and Uttar Pradesh (32.2%). Majority of in-migrants lived in Overcrowded houses (86.53%) and in-adequate ventilation facilities (87.53%). 45.25% of the study population was illiterate & 58.05% was unskilled labor. 71(78.88%) children in the age group of 10-19 years were employed as unskilled labor.

Conclusion: Majority of the migrants are poor, illiterate from backward communities. In cities, these floating population refrains from seeking health services especially from organized public & private sector due to various reasons like poverty, illiteracy, igno- rance.