Monitoring of Health and Demographic Outcomes in Poor Urban Settlements: Evidence from the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System

The Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (NUHDSS) was set up in Korogocho and Viwandani slum settlements to provide a platform for investigating linkages between urban poverty, health, and demographic and other socioeconomic outcomes, and to facilitate the evaluation of interventions to improve the wellbeing of the urban poor. Data from the NUHDSS confirm the high level of population mobility in slum settlements, and also demonstrate that slum settlements are long-term homes for many people. Research and intervention programs should take account of the duality of slum residency. Consistent with the trends observed countrywide, the data show substantial improvements in measures of child mortality, while there has been limited decline in fertility in slum settlements. The NUHDSS experience has shown that it is feasible to set up and implement long-term health and demographic surveillance system in urban slum settlements and to generate vital data for guiding policy and actions aimed at improving the wellbeing of the urban poor

Timing and Frequency of Antenatal Care Utilization in Slums: Assessing Determinants over time

Timely and adequate antenatal care (ANC) attendance is important in maternal health. This paper examined the factors associated with ANC utilization in Nairobi slums in 2000 and 2012. Data come from two cross sectional surveys in the slums in Nairobi city. We fitted multinomial and logistic regression models to assess respectively, factors associated with timing of the first ANC visit and the frequency of ANC visits. In both years, parity, mother’s ethnic group and educational attainment were significantly associated with timing of first ANC visit. Frequency of visits was significantly associated with mother’s educational attainment, parity, pregnancy wantedness and place of residence. We conclude that for optimal ANC utilization, there is need to improve women’s educational outcomes and address cultural barriers to utilizatio