Analysing social vulnerability to health shocks among the slum neighbourhoods of Midnapore municipality, India: a new approach

Abstract

A measure of social vulnerability is a critical issue in developing countries due to place inequalities of the level of impacts, damage and recovery from the natural and man-made disasters. Identification of socially vulnerable populations can reduce disaster risk through preparedness, response and recovery. Evidences from the literature shows that the slum neighbourhoods of Midnapore municipality have been facing socio-economic inequity and health shocks. However, we did not find any significant measures on social vulnerability in the study area. In this regard, we have developed susceptibility mapping of social vulnerability using GIS and statistical models. We have selected forty variables in the context of slum neighbourhoods. Using Principal component analysis (PCA), forty variables were reduced to seventeen components with a total explained variance of 70.832%. Component scores are combined to construct a modified Social vulnerability index (SoVI). The results from the analysis reveal that 10.25 % of are slum neighbourhoods with high levels of socially vulnerable and 30.15% slum neighbourhoods characterised with moderate to high levels of socially vulnerable, while only 3.20% slum neighbourhoods are less socially vulnerable. The findings of this small scale analysis have the potential to assist urban authorities, medical and health policymakers, district planning commission and authorities under disaster management in the development of more effective and geographically targeted urban health mission and healthcare management programs.