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Sickness among the urban poor: a barrier to livelihood security

Author

Listed:
  • Md. Azmal Kabir

    (Policy Research Department, Institute for Development Policy Analysis and Advocacy, Proshika, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

  • Ataur Rahman

    (Policy Research Department, Institute for Development Policy Analysis and Advocacy, Proshika, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

  • Sarah Salway

    (Public Health Nutrition Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK)

  • Jane Pryer

    (Public Health Nutrition Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK)

Abstract

Using qualitative and quantitative data from the Urban Livelihoods Study (ULS), this paper identifies illness as a key constraint on bustee (slum) households' ability to secure their livelihoods. The consequences of ill-health for bustee dwellers are examined and the coping strategies employed are described. The common responses to illness are found to often have negative implications for the human, material and social capital of households, thus making them ever more vulnerable. In order to redress this situation, action is needed on three fronts: reduction in the risks of morbidity, a large portion of which are poverty-related, stemming from poor living conditions and inadequate nutrition; provision of accessible affordable quality healthcare for adults; and complementary support measures to protect households and individuals from the knock-on effects of illness. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Md. Azmal Kabir & Ataur Rahman & Sarah Salway & Jane Pryer, 2000. "Sickness among the urban poor: a barrier to livelihood security," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(5), pages 707-722.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:12:y:2000:i:5:p:707-722
    DOI: 10.1002/1099-1328(200007)12:5<707::AID-JID703>3.0.CO;2-G
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Desmet, M. & Chowdhury, A. Q. & Islam, Md. K., 1999. "The potential for social mobilisation in Bangladesh: the organisation and functioning of two health insurance schemes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(7), pages 925-938, April.
    2. Ron, Aviva, 1999. "NGOs in community health insurance schemes: examples from Guatemala and the Philippines," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(7), pages 939-950, April.
    3. Harpham, Trudy & Stephens, Carolyn, 1992. "Policy directions in urban health in developing countries--The slum improvement approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 111-120, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pal, Rama, 2010. "Borrowing for hospitalization in India," MPRA Paper 29404, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Khan, Farid & Bedi, Arjun S. & Sparrow, Robert, 2015. "Sickness and Death: Economic Consequences and Coping Strategies of the Urban Poor in Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 255-266.
    3. Diana Mitlin, 2008. "GATS and water services," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 8(1), pages 31-44, January.
    4. Kuangnan Fang & Yefei Jiang & BenChang Shia & Shuangge Ma, 2012. "Impact of Illness and Medical Expenditure on Household Consumptions: A Survey in Western China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(12), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Bhattacharjee, Sanghita & Goswami, Bhaskar, 2019. "Managing health issues with low wages – A study of female domestic workers," MPRA Paper 93806, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Salway, Sarah & Rahman, Shahana & Jesmin, Sonia, 2003. "A Profile of Women's Work Participation Among the Urban Poor of Dhaka," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 881-901, May.
    7. McIntyre, Diane & Thiede, Michael & Dahlgren, Göran & Whitehead, Margaret, 2006. "What are the economic consequences for households of illness and of paying for health care in low- and middle-income country contexts?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 858-865, February.
    8. Navneet Manchanda & Dil Bahadur Rahut, 2021. "Inpatient Healthcare Financing Strategies: Evidence from India," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(6), pages 1729-1767, December.
    9. Anushree S. Panikkassery, 2020. "Impact of Out of Pocket Health Expenditure on Consumption Pattern of Below Poverty Line Households in India," Millennial Asia, , vol. 11(1), pages 27-53, April.
    10. Rama Pal, 2013. "Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: Impact on the Consumption of Indian Households," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(2), pages 258-279, June.
    11. Arjun S. Bedi & Sparrow, R.A., 2014. "Sickness and death," ISS Working Papers - General Series 51366, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    12. Cleary, Susan & Birch, Steve & Chimbindi, Natsayi & Silal, Sheetal & McIntyre, Di, 2013. "Investigating the affordability of key health services in South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 37-46.
    13. Tazeen Tahsina & Nazia Binte Ali & Md Abu Bakkar Siddique & Sameen Ahmed & Mubashshira Rahman & Sajia Islam & Md Mezanur Rahman & Bushra Amena & D M Emdadul Hoque & Tanvir M Huda & Shams El Arifeen, 2018. "Determinants of hardship financing in coping with out of pocket payment for care seeking of under five children in selected rural areas of Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Salem Deenadayalan Vaishnavi & Umakant Dash, 2009. "Catastrophic payments for health care among households in urban Tamil Nadu, India," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 169-184.
    15. Phusit Prakongsai & Natasha Palmer & Preecha Uay-Trakul & Viroj Tangcharoensathien & Anne Mills, 2009. "The implications of benefit package design: the impact on poor Thai households of excluding renal replacement therapy," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 291-308.

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