THE NUTRITION PROFILE OF THE SLUM DWELLERS - A COMPARISON WITH THE RURAL POOR

In 1985–86 a nutrition survey covering about one thousand people was performed in 4 selected urban slums of Dhaka city. Each slum had 400 or more households. The study revealed an alarming situation for the urban poor and when compared with the situation of the rural poor as had been determined in 1981–82, the latter were found to have better status. Intake of almost all foods and nutrients was lower among the slum dwellers when compared to those of the rural poor. Consumption of cereals, fish, milk and milk products was found to be very low. Among nutrients, the foremost deficiency was that of energy in which 88% of the slum households did not meet their requirement. In slum areas 80% of families had protein intakes below estimated requirements while in poor rural households the proportion was only 59 percent. Of the micro-nutrients the severest deficiencies were in respect of riboflavin and vitamin A. The prevalence of malnutrition was generally higher among the children of slum dwellers than it was among the children of rural poor. Alternative strategies to improve food availability are therefore suggested to minimize the severe consequences of malnutrition. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.