The Poverty of Cities in Developing Regions

Urban–rural differences in the socioeconomic deprivation–Sexual behavior link in Kenya

“…In Africa, the preponderance of demographic and health research remains on rural areas not only because they are home to majority of the population, but also because they have been considered relatively deprived in terms of access to resources and services (HABITAT, 1996). Mounting evidence, however, points to a growing vulnerability of an increasingly marginalized and burgeoning slum population that merits attention apparently because poverty and its attendant lack of access to basic amenities have greater sexual health implications for urban residents (Brockerhoff, & Brennan, 1998;HABITAT, 1996;Oberai, 1993;Todaro, 1989;White, 1996). Economic stresses associated with low wages, unemployment, and increasing poverty presumably incline many women to use sex to generate income for basic needs, provoking early initiation of sexual activity and high incidence of multiple sexual partnerships (Carael, & Allen, 1995;Ulin 1992).…”

“…About 90 percent of global population growth in the first quarter of the 21 st century will stem from urban growth in developing countries, with Africa expected to become majority urban within the next two decades (United Nations, 1998). Some African cities, including Nairobi, have grown at rates close to five percent annually over the last three decades (Obudho, 1997;Todaro, 1989), with severe implications for health outcomes (Brockerhoff, & Brennan, 1998). Inflows of poor migrants from rural hinterlands have much to do with this trend and the resulting growth of slum populations (HABITAT, 1996;Oberai, 1993;Todaro, 1989).…”

“…Although historical development biases have created "islands of privilege" in urban areas (Harrison, 1982;Lipton, 1976), there is a growing sentiment that economic stagnation has made some urban areas in the developing world worse off than even rural areas insofar as unemployment, cost of living, poverty, and access to health and related facilities are concerned (Brockerhoff, & Brennan, 1998;Crossette, 1996;Todaro, 1989;White, 1996). Recent evidence also documents the disadvantage of certain segments of urban areas vis-à-vis health, mortality, and even schooling outcomes (Brockerhoff, & Brennan, 1998;FAWE, 1999;Potts, 1997).…”

“…Recent evidence also documents the disadvantage of certain segments of urban areas vis-à-vis health, mortality, and even schooling outcomes (Brockerhoff, & Brennan, 1998;FAWE, 1999;Potts, 1997). Schooling data, for example, show that despite having the highest completion rates of all Kenyan districts, Nairobi has the lowest enrolment rates (56.9%) besides the largely nomadic Northeastern province (FAWE, 1999;Gachukia, 2000).…”

Maternal responses to childhood fevers: a comparison of rural and urban residents in coastal Kenya

“…However, the region currently has the highest rates of urbanization in the developing world (Brockerhoff & Brennan 1998), two-fifths of which has been attributed to rural-urban migration (Chant & Radcliffe 1992). With mounting international concern about the health status of rapidly growing low-income urban communities (Harpham 1997;Gould 1998), an improved understanding of the way in which these demographic processes influence treatment-seeking patterns is urgently needed (Tanner & Harpham 1995).…”