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Background To reduce the spread of COVID-19, several countries in Africa instituted countrywide lockdowns and other public health measures. Whereas lockdowns contributed to the control of the pandemic, there were concerns about the unintended consequences of these measures especially in the most vulnerable populations. We assessed unintended socio-economic and health consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the mitigation measures among slum dwellers in Kampala to inform the on-going and future pandemic response strategies. Methods This was a mixed methods cross-sectional study conducted in Bwaise I and Bwaise III slums of Kawempe division, Kampala Uganda from October to December 2020. We used systematic sampling to randomly select 425 household heads for the face-to-face quantitative interviews. We also conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs) with slum dwellers and used photovoice among eight Community Health Workers (CHWs) to document unintended socio-economic and health consequences. Quantitative data were imported into STATA version 14.0 for analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically using NVivo version 12. Modified Poisson regression analysis was conducted to establish factors associated with impact on access to food. Results Most respondents reported limited access to food (71.1%; 302/425); disruption in education (77.1%; 270/350); drop in daily income and wages (86.1%; 329/382) and loss of employment (63.1; 125/198). Twenty five percent of the respondents (25.4%; 86/338) reported domestic violence as one of the challenges. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative findings on the impact of COVID-19 including: limited access to food; negative impact on children’s rights (child labour and teenage pregnancies) and education; poor housing and lack of accommodation; negative social behaviours; negative impact on family and child care; reduced income and employment; and negative impact on health and access to health care services. Conclusion The slum dwellers of Bwaise I and Bwaise III experienced several negative socio-economic and health consequences of COVID-19 and its prevention measures that severely affected their wellbeing. Children experienced severe consequences such as child labour and teenage pregnancies among the girls. Response activities should be contextualised to different settings and protocols to protect the vulnerable groups in the community such as children and women should be developed and mainstreamed in response activities.

The emergent COVID-19 has impacted unprecedentedly to all classes of people. Slum-dwellers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are currently poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the KAP toward COVID-19 among slum dwellers resided in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional offline survey was carried out enrolling 406 slum dwellers (53.2% male; mean age = 44.9 years [SD = 12.1]; age range = 18-85 years) between August and September, 2020. The face to face interview was conducted to collect data from six selected slum areas in Dhaka City using convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of informed consent along with questions concerning observational checklists, socio-demographics and KAP. A sizeable minority were observed without wearing face masks during the survey periods (18.2%) and a vast portion (97.5%) without any hand protection. The mean scores of KAP were 6.1 ± 2.6 (out of 17), 12.3 ± 1.7 (out of 14) and 9.8 ± 1.6 (out of 12), respectively. Moreover, the KAP were strongly and positively correlated with each other. The findings revealed that the majority of slum dwellers in Bangladesh have limited knowledge of COVID-19. Poor practices (i.e. face mask and hand protection) were directly observed during the survey. The findings suggest the immediate implementation of health education programs and adequate interventions.

Slum development has become a major urban planning and management problem due to the challenges they pose to the larger urban environment. Activities of slum dwellers are known to undermine the social, economic and environmental sustainability efforts of city authorities. This makes the slum environment feature highly in urban regeneration programmes as a way of improving the standards of living of slum dwellers. This study analyses the location of some selected slums in the Kumasi Metropolis and assesses the socio-economic and environmental effects of the activities of the slum dwellers. For the purpose of this study, 260 slum households from Aboabo and Ayigya Zongo, all slums in the Kumasi Metropolis, were randomly selected and interviewed. The results showed that the spatial location of slums within the Kumasi Metropolis is influenced by the availability of undesirable vacant lands. Migrants to the city and other poor households squat on these lands, which later develop into slums. The activities of the slum dwellers were associated with environmental problems such as river pollution and poor environmental sanitation. On the socio-economic front, poor state of health, lower educational outcomes and higher noise emission levels were identified. Based on the findings of the study, there is the need for city authorities to formulate green policies that will help transform these unattractive lands into green spaces to halt the development and expansion of slums. The researchers further recommend that, there is the need for city authorities to deepen environmental awareness campaigns in these slums to guarantee uptake of positive attitude towards the management and utilization of environmental resources in the Metropolis.

Background This study explores the impact of HIV/AIDS on urban slum dwellers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, addressing unique socio-economic challenges and limited health resources. Despite low overall prevalence, gender inequalities, economic disparities, and awareness gaps persist. The aim is to assess HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among this population, informing targeted interventions. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews in Dhaka's slum areas between October and November 2023. The sample size was calculated as 453 participants through non-probability (convenient sampling) sampling. A structured questionnaire in Bengali assessed socio-demographic factors, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable linear regression by SPSS (version 26) and STATA (version 14). Results Urban slum dwellers exhibited limited average HIV/AIDS knowledge of 33.00%, favouring males. Positive association was found between daily physical exercise and knowledge, while insufficient sleep and lack of social media access were negative predictors. Average attitudes were generally positive (81.06%), influenced by factors such as gender, employment status, family history of STDs, and daily physical exercise. The average score of prevention practices was 60.6%, with positive predictors including male gender, cooperative family members, STD history, family history of STDs, acquaintance with HIV patients, and social media usage over 2 h. Younger age was negatively associated with prevention practices. Conclusion This study pinpoints factors influencing HIV/AIDS knowledge and behaviours in Bangladeshi urban slum dwellers. Tailored interventions focusing on gender, and social media can enhance preventive measures. Acknowledging limitations, the study urges cautious interpretation due to potential biases in convenience sampling and self-reporting.

INTRODUCTION: Pandemics have historically posed significant threats to public health, with their impact often disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including slum dwellers. The convergence of densely populated under-resourced urban areas and the rapid spread of infectious diseases presents unique challenges and heightened risks to the health and well-being of individuals residing in these marginalized communities. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to examine how the epidemic has affected slum residents. Additionally, the study intends to measure the stress and resiliency of such residents. For this reason, bibliometric analysis has been used. METHODS: Such analysis has been carried out through the use of procedures like keyword selection, database selection, and research paper collection, search result refinement with selection and rejection criteria, and data collection and analysis. The databases Scopus and Dimension have been chosen to compile papers from 2020 to 2022. When searching for publications, terms like \"slum dwellers,\" \"coping strategy,\" \"pandemic stress,\" and \"slum resilience\" are often used. Data analysis is done using the R software package Biblioshiny. RESULTS: China, Spain, and Switzerland lead in average article citations and overall citations. Dominant themes are Covid, slum, health, and pandemic, with a focus on pandemic effects, health issues, and infection spread. The thematic map highlights \"Covid and Slum Dwellers\" as a central research theme, with thematic evolution from Covid and Population to themes like Slum, Surveys, and Participants, indicating a focus on data collection via interviews on the Covid impact on slum residents. CONCLUSION: Several research papers were published to study the COVID-19 impact on slum dwellers from different dimensions. But their resilience strategy was less emphasised which can be a platform for emerging researchers. More studies are expected in this area. This study will assist policymakers in revising their approach to development and slump transformation.

Political philosophers’ prescriptions for poverty alleviation have overlooked the importance of social movements led by, and for, the poor in the global South. I argue that these movements are normatively and politically significant for poverty reduction strategies and global justice generally. While often excluded from formal political processes, organized poor communities nonetheless lay the groundwork for more radical, pro-poor forms of change through their grassroots resistance and organizing. Poor-led social movements politicize poverty by insisting that, fundamentally, it is caused by social relations of power that exploit and subordinate poor populations. These movements and their organizations also develop the collective capabilities of poor communities in ways that help them to contest the structures and processes that perpetuate their needs deprivation. I illustrate these contributions through a discussion of the Landless Rural Worker’s Movement in Brazil (the MST), a poor mobilization organization in Bangladesh (Nijera Kori), and the slum and pavement dweller movement in India. Global justice theorizing about poverty cannot just “add on” the contributions of such struggles to existing analyses of, and remedies for, poverty, however; rather, we will need to shift to a relational approach to poverty in order to see the vital importance of organized poor communities to transformative, poor-centered poverty reduction.

Background Mental health is reported to be a significant issue among slum dwellers and unhoused (homeless) individuals worldwide, particularly those facing housing instability. Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city and industrial hub of Vietnam, has a substantial population experiencing housing instability, although its exact scale has rarely been accurately measured. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of serious psychological distress among slum dwellers and unhoused individuals in Ho Chi Minh City and to identify factors associated with serious psychological distress. Methods A cross-sectional survey involving 415 individuals experiencing housing instability, including 383 slum dwellers and 32 unhoused individuals, was conducted between November 2023 and April 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the 6-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Results The overall prevalence of serious psychological distress was 19.8%, with 18.5% among slum dwellers and 34.4% among unhoused people. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between serious psychological distress and female gender (adjusted odds ratio = 3.086, p  < 0.001), labour exploitation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.914, p  = 0.046), and debt (adjusted odds ratio = 3.109, p  < 0.001). Notably, 68.7% of the participants reported experiencing some form of labour exploitation, which commonly included contract rejections, forced overwork, wage theft, and physical or verbal abuse. Furthermore, 43.7% of the participants were in debt, with 38.6% borrowing from moneylenders. Conclusions The prevalence of serious psychological distress among individuals with unstable housing in Ho Chi Minh City was significantly higher than that of the general population, highlighting the urgent need for mental health interventions targeted at this population. Those with serious psychological distress frequently faced both labour and economic exploitation, without sufficient social protection. In terms of labour exploitation, policy interventions, particularly from an occupational health perspective, are necessary. To address economic exploitation through debt, given the prevalence of loan sharks, efforts to crack down on predatory lending and promote financial inclusion are essential.

Purpose This study aims to examine the motivations and supports of stakeholders in the slum communities, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Two-stage methodologies were used for data collection. Published Google News articles about the phenomenon as well as exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 participants. Findings The evidence shows that structured and unstructured are the two main categories of stakeholders operating in the space of slums in Ghana. It shows that stakeholders are motivated by their objectives and ethical or moral obligations to provide support in the form of consumables, housing and finance to the slums. Research limitations/implications Because of the data collection regime used in this project, findings are specific to the Ghanaian context and not generalisable. However, the results could be beneficial in other contexts with similar slum phenomena. Practical implications The conclusions drawn serve as a springboard for urban managers responsible for slum administration and management to develop policy packages to incentivise and enlist more non-slum stakeholders in the existing stakeholders. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few that expands the frontiers of the stakeholder model within context to discover specific slum stakeholders, their motivations and support for the slums in a consolidated manner.

PurposeThis study investigates how enhancing slum dwellers' capabilities influences their entrepreneurship development and contributes to urban poverty reduction, providing insights for social policy design.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design is adopted applying structural equation modeling to survey data from 585 beneficiaries of social welfare schemes across Indian slums.FindingsEducational, economic and sociocultural capabilities positively impact quantitative and qualitative dimensions of slum entrepreneurship development, which reduces urban poverty, supporting the hypothesized relationships grounded in the Capability Approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional data limits causal inference. Wider sampling can improve generalizability. Capability antecedents of entrepreneurship merit further investigation across contexts.Practical implicationsIntegrated policy initiatives focused on education, skill building, access to finance and markets can leverage entrepreneurship for sustainable urban poverty alleviation.Social implicationsEnhancing slum dweller capabilities fosters entrepreneurship and empowerment, enabling people to shape their own destinies and reduce deprivations.Originality/valueThe research provides timely empirical validation of the Capability Approach and evidence-based insights to inform social policy aiming to alleviate urban poverty via entrepreneurship in developing countries.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-07-2023-0514.

The papers in this volume discuss the strategies adopted by people to accumulate assets through migration, housing investments, natural resources management, and informal businesses and consider how an asset-based social policy could enable those strategies or help them overcome the constraints of an unfavorable institutional environment.