Demography environmental status and maternal health care in slums of Vellore town southern India.

Research Question: What is the status of demographic structure, domestic environment, and maternal health care in poor urban communities? Objectives: To study the demography, domestic environmental status, and maternal health care services in slums of Vellore town. Study Design: Cross-sectional study (Needs Assessment survey) Setting: Two slums in Vellore town, Tamil Nadu. Participants: All 3334 families in the two slums. Results: There were 15280 persons in the study area in the year 2000. Sex ratio was 965: 1000. About 60% of them owned houses; 56% of the houses were concrete (pucca) houses. 96% of houses had electricity connection; only 25% had household water connection and latrine. While 47% used liquefi ed petroleum gas as cooking fuel, 20% still used fi rewood. Reported rates of iron tablets consumption and tetanus toxoid acceptance were 87% and 94% among antenatal women respectively; 85% had normal vaginal deliveries. The crude birth rate was 25.7/1000. The couple protection rate was 52%. Conclusions: The two slums had comparably secure houses with reasonably good structures. Access to safe water supply, sanitation facilities, and garbage disposal was however very low. A sizeable proportion had inadequate access to high-quality antenatal and obstetric care services. Reliable, local information is essential for managing a decentralized health care system.