Public Health Foundation of India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Save the Children
Abstract
The rapid population growth in urban India has outpaced the municipal capacity to build essential
infrastructures that make life in cities safe and healthy. Local and national governments alike are
grappling with the challenges of urbanization, with thousands migrating from villages to cities. Many
of them ultimately end up living in slums, which are, in fact, a product of this uncontrolled migration.
Thus urbanization in India has been accompanied by a concentration of poverty and urban public
health has emerged as one of the most pressing priorities facing our country.
Children’s health is primarily determined by socioeconomic conditions, which in turn are shaped by
the distribution of power and resources. The consequences of having too little of both are evident in
informal settlements and slums.
This chapter focuses on newborn health in urban areas in India. It discusses the challenges, roadblocks,
efforts, and initiatives by the government and other national and international organizations, possible
options, research priorities and the other requirements needed to gear up the urban health systems
to cater to newborn health
