Utilization of Health Services in Urban Kerala

As an interdisciplinary work, this book “Utilization of health services in urban kerala a socio- economic study” focuses on the problems and determinants of urban health. It identifies the basic problem faced by the urban slum dwellers with respect to the utilization of public health care service system, utilization pattern of health care services, the perception of urban and slum dwellers with regard to various health problems and above all the linkage of morbidity pattern and socio-Economic status of the urban and the slum dwellers. The book reveals that rapid urbanization is the root cause of all urban health problems. The problem of accessibility of public medical facilities is an important hurdle in the urban health environment of kerala. As the Major chunk of Government health budget has been earmarked for paying salary and allowances, very meager amount is left for purchasing Medicines. In this circumstances the Government hospitals and health centers are not able to meet even the requirements of people of the lowest socio-economic class. The poverty related health hazards is increasing in the urban set up. The bad living environment accounts for the hike in urban morbidity in Kerala which is estimated as the highest in India. The socio-economic status is an important determinant in the utilization of health services and its impact on urban morbidity is very severe in Kerala.