SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES UTILIZATION PATTERN AMONG THE POOR MIGRANTS IN IMPHAL, MANIPUR: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

With the on-going National Rural Health Mission the healthcare sector in the rural areas are becoming relatively better well-organized than the urban areas. This affects the poorer section of the urban community who cannot afford costly treatment in private-run health facilities. To prepare an effective health-plan for this population under the up-coming National Health Mission, it is imperative to study the socio-demographic and healthcare utilization pattern among the urban poor. The study was taken up in Imphal, the capital of Manipur State in 2012. Both quantitative data (3844 poor migrant households) and qualitative data were collected. There was no identified slum area in Imphal. Majority of the cross-State migrants were from Bihar. Migration was mainly for economic reasons. Most of the migrants (92%) lived in rented houses out of which 63% were katcha houses. 67% of the migrant households lived in a single room. Main fuel for cooking was LPG. Main sources of water for drinking were house-hold tap and tanker-trucks. None of the houses had own latrines. Closed drainage system was present for a few households (8%) only. TV/Radio which was possessed by all the households was the main source of information. The usual source of medical care was from the two teaching medical institutions existing in the State. Other public healthcare facilities were accessed only by a few. Transportation to access the health facilities was to be arranged by self. Out of the pocket expenditure was the usual mode of expenditure for meeting expenses during times of seeking healthcare. Home-visit by healthcare workers was a rare phenomenon except during Intensified Pulse Polio Campaigns and for Routine immunization services. Very few (<1%) received free medicines from the health facilities. The main reason for not accessing government healthcare facilities was long waiting time. There was hardly any discrimination because of being a migrant. Nearly half of the women had 3 or more ANC visits. Home-visits by government health workers for ANC and PNC services were almost non-existent. Institutional delivery rate was 86% with delivery by Caesarean section being 20%. Fully immunized rate among children was 49%.