The Implications of Informal Settlement Upgrading Programs for Access to Water, Sanitation, and Public Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Satterthwaite ◽  
Alice Sverdlik
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Water Mains

Most cities in low- and middle-income countries have substantial proportions of their population living in informal settlements—sometimes up to 60% or more. These also house much of the city’s low-income workforce; many informal settlements also concentrate informal economic activities. These settlements usually lack good provision for water, sanitation, and other essential services. The conventional government responses were to bulldoze them or ignore them. But from the 1960s, another approach became common—upgrading settlements to provide missing infrastructure (e.g., water pipes, sewers, drains). In the last 20 years, community-driven upgrading has become increasingly common. Upgrading initiatives are very diverse. At their best, they produce high-quality and healthy living conditions and services that would be expected to greatly reduce illness, injury or disablement, and premature death. But at their worst, upgrading schemes provide a limited range of improvements do nothing to reduce the inhabitants’ exclusion from public services. There is surprisingly little research on upgrading’s impact on health. One reason is the very large number of health determinants at play. Another is the lack of data on informal settlement populations. Much of the innovation in upgrading is in partnerships between local governments and organizations formed by informal settlement residents, including slum/shack dweller federations that are active in over 30 nations. Community-driven processes can deal with issues that are more difficult for professionals to resolve—including mapping and enumerations. Meanwhile, local government can provide the connections to all-weather roads, water mains, sewers, and storm drains into which communities can connect.

Informal Settlement Upgrading and the Rise of Rental Housing in São Paulo, Brazil

2022 ◽  
pp. 0739456X2110654
Author(s):  
Kristine Stiphany ◽  
Peter M. Ward ◽  
Leticia Palazzi Perez
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Methodological Study ◽  
Urban Informality ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Investments

Rental housing was historically a minimal feature of urban informality. Now it is surging amid municipal attempts to “upgrade” informal settlements in São Paulo, Brazil. Drawing upon a mixed-methodological study of two favelas on São Paulo’s east side, we analyze how cycles of upgrading shape informal rental housing at the urban, community, block, and parcel levels, providing detailed comparative data for 2010–2020. Our findings suggest that rental housing redevelopment can increase precarity in urban living, but is an important source of low-income housing in already built-up and “consolidated” settlements where access is declining. Our study emphasizes the need for scholars, policy makers, and planners to further explore the praxis of informal renting and rental housing, which can be effective conduits for channeling public investments across consolidated informal settlements and into individual dwellings.

Social capital and perceived tenure security of informal housing: Evidence from Beijing, China

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802110330
Author(s):  
Mengzhu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Psychological Explanation ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Tenure Security

Perceived tenure security is recognised to affect the socioeconomic behaviours and wellbeing of informal settlement dwellers. The provision of perceived tenure security is centred on the developmental agenda as a key policy alternative of tenure legalisation. Despite the consensus about its importance, the reason perceived tenure security is different amongst dwellers remains unclear. To fill this gap, we introduce social capital theory to understand the formation of and disparity in perceived tenure security. The hypotheses are that dwellers living in informal settlements with higher collective social capital and having higher individual social capital tend to feel more secure on their tenure because of higher backing power attained to deter the threats of eviction. We examine the hypotheses using a structural equation model approach to a dataset collected from three small property rights housing communities, which are emerging informal settlements in urban China. Modelling results support our hypotheses and suggest that female, low-income and migrant dwellers tend to feel less secure on their tenure because of the lack of social capital to deter the threats to their tenure. This study contributes to a new sociological explanation for the disparity in perceived tenure security other than the established psychological explanation. Empirically, this study contributes to the understanding of the rapid development of small property rights housing developments in China from the perspective of how dwellers develop security on informal tenure.

scholarly journals Access to improved sanitation facilities in low-income informal settlements of East African cities

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Okurut ◽  
R. N. Kulabako ◽  
P. Abbott ◽  
J. M. Adogo ◽  
J. Chenoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan

Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly, often exceeding the capacity and the resources of the cities and towns to accommodate the people. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These settlements present unique challenges to the provision of sustainable and hygienic sanitation, and there is insufficient information on access to improved facilities. This paper reports findings of a study undertaken in low-income informal settlements using a mixed methods approach to assess access to sanitation and identify the barriers to household uptake of improved sanitation facilities. More than half of the respondents (59.7%) reported using sanitation facilities that are included in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme definition of improved sanitation. However, a high proportion of these facilities did not provide access to basic sanitation. Less than 5% of all the respondents did not report problems related to sustainable access to basic sanitation. The findings highlight the urgent need to develop specific and strategic interventions for each low-income informal settlement, to upscale the sustainable access and use of improved sanitation in urban centres.

“If in doubt, count”: the role of community-driven enumerations in blocking eviction in Old Fadama, Accra

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Braimah R Farouk ◽  
Mensah Owusu
Keyword(s):  
Urban Poor ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Population Data ◽  
City Government ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
City Governments ◽  
New City

This paper describes the community-driven enumerations undertaken in Old Fadama, the largest informal settlement in Accra, which has long been threatened with eviction. After meeting with members of shack dweller federations from other nations, residents formed the Ghana Homeless People’s Federation in 2003 (now known as the Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor (GHAFUP). Together with the NGO People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements, they supported the first community-driven enumeration in Old Fadama in 2004 to counter the threat of eviction, by showing the large scale of economic activities in the community and the gap in accurate population data. This was followed by further enumerations, in 2006–2007 and in 2009, to counter new eviction threats from new city governments. These enumerations increased the residents’ confidence, empowering them in terms of engagement with city government. They also changed government’s perspective on informal settlements and helped shape policy away from forced evictions towards participatory relocations or rehabilitation.

scholarly journals A RANDOMISED CONTROL TRIAL ON CEREBRO VASCULAR ACCIDENT PATIENTS WITH REFERENCE TO AETIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT: 24 WEEKS, SINGLE-CENTER, PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL PILOT STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 98-103
Author(s):  
LEELA PRASAD K ◽  
SHAIK KAREEMULLA ◽  
ALIYA FIRDOSE K ◽  
YASMEEN S
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Utilization Review ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Number Of Patients

Objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in world. Stroke is an important cause of premature death and disability in low-income and middle-income countries like India, largely driven by demographic changes and enhanced by the increasing prevalence of key modifiable risk factors. The main aim of our study was to assess the clinical profile with special reference to the etiology of the condition, the management, and drug utilization review. Methods: This is a hospital-based prospective observational randomized control trial which was conducted for a period of 6 months at Government General Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa. Seventy-five patients were recruited based on study criteria. The data were analyzed and summarized as frequency and percentage by GraphPad Prism software using Microsoft Excel. Results: In a total of 75 patients, it was found that 45 and 30 patients were female. Maximum number of patients (i.e. 36 patients) belonged to 51–60 years age group. We observed that 52 patients were suffering from ischemic stroke, 21 patients were suffering from transient ischemic stroke, and only 2 patients were suffering from ischemic stroke and transient ischemic stroke. Among 75 patients studied, hypertension (62%), diabetes mellitus (28%), smoking (33%), and alcohol (33%) were the risk factors. Conclusion: In this study, ischemic stroke was most prevalent. Hypertension, that is, increase of blood pressure considered as one of the important and major risk factors for stroke occurrence and recurrence. Proper management includes non-pharmacological (physiotherapy) along with pharmacological treatment that included cardiovascular system drugs such as hypolipidemics, cognition enhancers, anticoagulants, and antihypertensive therapy.

scholarly journals Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the Arab world: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ihsan Kaadan ◽  
Joud Abdulkarim ◽  
Maher Chaar ◽  
Obada Zayegh ◽  
Mouhammed Ali Keblawi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Income ◽  
Rate Variation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vaccine Acceptance ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Global Rate

Abstract Background The Arab region is highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Local governments have already started to act against the disease. However, only a few countries provided COVID-19 vaccination. Compliance with vaccination is a major topic affecting proper coverage. Thus, we aim to explore vaccine acceptance among Arab populations, and compare it with the global numbers. Methods An internet-based survey using social media platforms was conducted, targeting adults who were able to read and understand Arabic, had access to the internet, and from all 22 Arab league countries. Due to the response rate variation between participants, the countries were grouped into four categories based on their income: Low income, Lower-middle income, Upper-middle income, and High-income economies. Data about demographics, previous COVID-19 infection, and vaccine acceptance tendency were collected and analyzed using Chi-squared (χ2) test and Logistic regression. Results A total of 870 participants completed the survey. 59.3% of the participants were male, 53.3% were between 25 and 44 years, and 69.9% were Arabs who live inside of their home country. The COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 62.4%. A significant higher tendency toward vaccination was identified in males (65.4%, P = 0.04) and people living outside their home countries (67.9%, P = 0.02). However, age group, level of education, and previous COVID-19 infection were all factors with insignificant effect. Citizens of High-income countries were more likely to accept the vaccine (70.2%). Conclusions Less than two-thirds of Arabs are compliant with COVID-19 vaccination. This proportion is relatively lower than the global rate. It is important to develop strategies to promote vaccine acceptance and reach the ideal coverage needed to achieve efficient immunization.

scholarly journals Low-income women’s right to sanitation services in city public spaces: a study of waste picker women in Pune

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nupur Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Policy Discourse ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

While considerable existing literature has focused on the lack of sanitation services in informal settlements, this paper argues for the need for well-maintained sanitation services in city public spaces. Specifically, the paper describes the impact of a lack of sanitation facilities in public spaces and its linkages to waste picker women’s sense of safety and security. Drawing on the experiences of waste picker women residing in an informal settlement in Pune, it focuses on women’s everyday improvisations and negotiations to cope with the unavailability or inaccessibility of sanitation facilities while they traverse the city, picking and segregating waste, and the impact on their income, health and psychological well-being. The findings show that the policy discourse on sanitation needs to be expanded beyond a focus on informal settlements to include a public sanitation component.

scholarly journals Social protection response to the COVID-19 crisis: options for developing countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S281-S296 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Gerard ◽  
Clément Imbert ◽  
Kate Orkin
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Social Insurance System ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Vulnerable Households

Abstract The public health response to COVID-19 in many countries has involved strict restrictions on movement and economic activity which threaten the livelihoods of economically vulnerable households. In response, governments are adopting emergency economic measures to provide households with some safety net. We provide an overview of the policies that could form a comprehensive social protection strategy in low-income and middle-income countries, with examples of specific policies that have been adopted. Our core argument is that these countries can cast an emergency safety net with extensive coverage if they use a broader patchwork of solutions than higher-income countries. These strategies could include expanding their social insurance system, building on existing social assistance programmes, and involving local governments and non-state institutions to identify and assist vulnerable groups who are otherwise harder to reach.

scholarly journals A Systematised Review of the Health Impact of Urban Informal Settlements and Implications for Upgrading Interventions in South Africa, a Rapidly Urbanising Middle-Income Country

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Weimann ◽  
Tolu Oni
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Informal settlements are becoming more entrenched within African cities as the urban population continues to grow. Characterised by poor housing conditions and inadequate services, informal settlements are associated with an increased risk of disease and ill-health. However, little is known about how informal settlement upgrading impacts health over time. A systematised literature review was conducted to explore existing evidence and knowledge gaps on the association between informal settlement characteristics and health and the impact of informal settlement upgrading on health, within South Africa, an upper-middle income African country. Using two databases, Web of Science and PubMed, we identified 46 relevant peer-reviewed articles published since 1998. Findings highlight a growing body of research investigating the ways in which complete physical, mental and social health are influenced by the physical housing structure, the psychosocial home environment and the features of the neighbourhood and community in the context of informal settlements. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal research investigating the temporal impact of informal settlement upgrading or housing improvements on health outcomes of these urban residents. Informal settlements pose health risks particularly to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with suppressed immune systems, and are likely to aggravate gender-related inequalities. Due to the complex interaction between health and factors of the built environment, there is a need for further research utilising a systems approach to generate evidence that investigates the interlinked factors that longitudinally influence health in the context of informal settlement upgrading in rapidly growing cities worldwide.

scholarly journals Lessons Learned from Applying an Integrated Land Use Transport Planning Model to Address Issues of Social and Economic Exclusion of Marginalised Groups: The Case of Cape Town, South Africa

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Hazvinei Tsitsi Tamuka Moyo ◽  
Mark Zuidgeest ◽  
Hedwig van Delden
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
Low Income Housing

The Group Areas Act of 1950 has resulted in post-apartheid South African cities being characterised by spatial patterns with limited access to social and economic opportunities for the black and coloured population. Typically, high-density low-income housing is located peripherally, while low density high-income housing is located in accessible central areas. With increased rural-to-urban migration, the demand for formal housing has historically surpassed supply, which has increased the growth of informal settlements. Current discourse within South African land use policy suggests that in-situ upgrading of informal housing is a viable response to integrate informal settlements into the formal city. In parallel, it is proposed that new low-income residential areas and employment-generating land uses should be located along transport corridors to improve access to transport, its infrastructure and the opportunities it provides for previously marginalised groups. This study uses Cape Town as a case city to explore two land-use driven development strategies directed at informal settlements and low-income housing. A dynamic land use transport model based on a cellular automata land use model and a four-stage transport model was used to simulate land use and transport changes. Specifically, in-situ upgrading of informal settlements and strategically locating new low-income residential and employment generating land uses along transport corridors were considered. The results from the analysis suggest that in-situ upgrading is a viable option only if new informal settlements are in areas with easy access to economic centres. With regards to low-income housing, targeted interventions aimed at ‘unlocking’ low-income housing activities along transport corridors were found to be useful. However, it was also observed that middle-income residential development and employment generating activities were also attracted to the same corridors, thus, resulting in mixed land uses, which is beneficial but can potentially result in rental bids between low and middle-income earners thus displacing low-income earners away from these areas.

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