URBAN POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN KISENYI SLUM; KAMPALA, UGANDA.

Abstract

This study sought to assess the influence of urban poverty on Environmental health in Kisenyi slum. The objectives to the study were; to assess the extent to which the income status of residents affect environmental health, to find out the effect of the education status of slum dwellers on Environmental healthand to examine the relationship between tenure security and Environmentalhealth. The study used a cross sectional research designto understandthe relationship between the two variables at that point in time. A triangulation methodwas adapted where a questionnaire, an interview guide and observation guide were employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data.Respondents were systematically and purposively selected from the three parishes of Kisenyi.Content analysis was used to edit qualitativedata whilequantitative data was analyzed using SPSS.The study revealed that the incomes/consumption levels had a greater influence on the state of the environmental health. There was also magnificent evidence that the loweducation levelsand the lack of adherence to existing land tenure lawsgreatly threatened environmental health.It was concluded that;the low incomes/ consumption levels of the slum dwellers had a great influence on the state of environmental health, the Education and awareness levels amongst the slum dwellers were generally low hence highly affected the health of the environmentandTenure insecurity was identified as a key predictor on the state of environmental health.The study recommended among other things; urgent need for government to regulate and support the informal sector, extend more financial support to the small community projects implemented by the slum dwellers like the briquettes project aimed at improving on the their incomes at the same time protecting the environment and more programs be introduced during the awareness campaigns to address theproblem of sanitation in the area as well as implementing the land use master plansand zoning of the area.